Agassi pulls out of Australian Open, Nadal in doubt
(China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2006-01-06 06:56

SYDNEY: Four-time Australian Open champion Andre Agassi succumbed to a long-standing ankle injury and officially withdrew from the first Grand Slam event of the year, his management company said yesterday.

The 35-year-old American tennis great, an eight-time Grand Slam champion, sustained the injury playing racquetball with a friend last October and has not recovered in time to make the trip to Melbourne for the Open, which starts on January 16.

More bad news for Australian Open organizers as Nadal in doubt.

Organizers of the Australian Open were already downbeat regarding the announcement of Agassi's withdrawal from the event yesterday because of a long-standing ankle injury, but received more bad news when world No 2 Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Sydney International tournament with a foot injury, raising doubts about his appearance in the Open to be played in Melbourne.

Nadal is battling to be ready for the Australian Open as he continues to be troubled by a left foot injury he sustained during the Madrid Masters final last October and which forced him out of the season-ending event in Shanghai.

Nadal informed Sydney tournament officials that he would not be fit enough to play in next week's event.

"I am very sorry that I cannot play in Sydney because I was looking forward to coming there for the first time," Nadal said in a statement released by tournament organizers.

"The tournament is very strong and it would have been exciting to play there.

"Maybe I would have played against Lleyton (Hewitt) and that would have been very good - we have exciting matches."

His uncle and coach Toni Nadal said on the player's website: "Rafa has recovered from the injury to his foot but the change of support pressure points, because of the insoles, have caused a muscle strain and that is the problem that makes us doubtful for Australia.

"We will only travel if he is fully fit. We cannot play thinking of getting through one round."