Tennis: Petkovic out of Hopman Cup with knee injury

PERTH (AP) - Germany's Andrea Petkovic is hopeful that she can return to the court in less than a month after suffering a right knee injury during her opening match at the Hopman Cup on Saturday.

Petkovic retired after winning the first set against Australia's Ashleigh Barty and a scan has revealed that she is suffering from a rupture of the meniscus. She will immediately return to Germany for treatment and will miss the Australian Open beginning Jan 14.

With no German players available, Petkovic is expected to be replaced by Donna Vekic of Croatia. It is the first time in the 25 year history of the event that a player has been asked to represent a nation other than their own.

"I had an MRI this morning and they found out it is a rupture of the medium meniscus," Petkovic said. "They don't know yet if they have to trim it. If they do it will be fine and I will only be out for a month. I could probably be playing already after two weeks, hitting balls. That would be really great.