Third-Seeded Fernandez Withdraws From Palm Springs Tennis Event

PALM SPRINGS —  Fifth-ranked Mary Joe Fernandez withdrew from next week’s Virginia Slims of Palm Springs Friday because of flu.

Fernandez would have been seeded third in the $350,000 tennis tournament, which begins Monday at Bono’s Racket Club. No. 2-ranked Monica Seles and No. 3-ranked Martina Navratilova are the top two seeded players. Seles can become the No. 1-ranked player if she wins the tournament and defeats Navratilova.

Moving up to the third-seeded spot is Katerina Maleeva, 21, who is entered with her sister, Magdalena, 15. The younger Maleeva is seeded for the first time in a Virginia Slims event--No. 16.

The Maleevas, who travel with their mother, nine-time Bulgarian national champion Yulia Berberian, are one sister short of appearing en masse: Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere, 24, is not entered.