Henin pulls out of China Open

BEIJING (Reuters) - World number one Justine Henin has pulled out of next week's China Open because of a respiratory infection, organizers said on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old Belgian won her second U.S. Open title last weekend and had been number one seed for the $585,000 WTA tournament.

In a statement released by the organizers, Henin's agent Ken Meyerson said she had been enthusiastic about playing in the Chinese capital less than a year before the Beijing Olympics.

"She went to a doctor in Brussels about her recurring respiratory issues/asthma. The doctor told her to take three weeks off," Meyerson said, adding that Henin was also doubtful for the Stuttgart Grand Prix event starting on October 1

World number three Jelena Jankovic of Serbia has said she wants to play and will be given a wild card, organizers said.

Beijing's notorious pollution was in evidence on Wednesday and the tournament weather forecast described the air quality as "unhealthy".