Ronnie O'Sullivan withdraws from China Open in Beijing
Last Updated: 27/03/15 8:35pm
Ronnie O'Sullivan has been forced to pull out of next week's China Open because of "glandula fever".
The five-time world champion was due to face Robin Hull or Yan Bingtao in his opening match in Beijing on Tuesday night.
O'Sullivan's withdrawal means these two players will automatically receive a bye to the last 32.
The 'Rocket' told Inside Snooker: "I had to pull out of the China Open with great regret over the glandular fever, and a doctor’s note is with World Snooker.
“It has reared up again which is unfortunate, but it is something that can stay with you and doesn’t just go away. It can come back, that is the nature of the illness. I have been basically ordered by my doctor not to travel to China or exert myself too much for a couple of weeks.
“I am very disappointed not to be playing, and gutted to be letting the Chinese people down – though it is for unavoidable reasons. I wanted the match practice, people have seen I have said I needed to play more this season, and I have done that.
"But your health is the most important thing to look after and it would be wrong for me to go all that way right now."
The China Open runs from March 30 to April 5 with China's Ding Junhui looking to defend his crown after beating Neil Robertson in the final last year.
The news comes a few days after O'Sullivan's 10-7 defeat by Judd Trump in the World Grand Prix final in Llandudno.
It means O'Sullivan's next scheduled tournament will be the World Championship in Sheffield where the 39-year-old from Essex will aim to secure a sixth Crucible title.