PERTH: World No.15 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova will replace Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Russian team at the Hopman Cup mixed teams event in January, organisers said on Monday.
World No.12 Kuznetsova has withdrawn from the tournament but said she is still hopeful she will be fit enough to start her season in Australia.
"I’ve had a procedure on my left wrist and have withdrawn from the Hopman Cup as a precaution," Kuznetsova said.
"I am recovering very well and I should be completely okay. I hope to be ready to go for the rest of the Australian summer."
Pavlyuchenkova will partner Karen Khachanov for Russia when she makes her Perth debut in January.
Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev, Jack Sock and David Goffin are among those confirmed to play in the Hopman Cup, starting in Perth on December 30.