Petra Kvitova pulls out of Paris WTA Open citing respiratory problems

Second seed Petra Kvitova pulled out of the Paris WTA Open on Thursday citing respiratory problems, with organisers giving her place to a lucky loser.

Kvitova of the Czech Republic withdrew ahead of her second round date with France's Alize Cornet.

Cornet will now face Kvitova's compatriot, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 74th in the WTA rankings.

"I was absolutely intent on playing today but I had to see my doctor as I wasn't feeling well," Kvitova said.

"I've got a sore throat and after practising this morning I realised that after 10 minutes I wasn't able to breathe so unfortunately I was forced to withdraw."

Kvitova, ranked sixth in the world, won the Paris Open in 2011.