Martina Hingis suffered a setback in her Australian Open build-up today when she hurt her leg during her semi-final victory over Kim Clijsters in the Sydney International tennis tournament.
The Swiss woman won the match 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 to book a place in Saturday's singles final against either Serena Williams or Meghann Shaughnessy. But she pulled out of Friday night's doubles final where she was to partner Anna Kournikova against Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs.
"There is no way I could have played tonight," Hingis told reporters. "I'm just very happy to get through this one but I don't want to risk it in the doubles.
"I'm just going to have as much rest as I possibly can, have a massage and treatment and go out there and play a good match tomorrow," she said.
Hingis, competing in her first tournament since an ankle injury cost her the number one ranking last year, said the thigh strain was not serious and was confident of playing in the Australian Open starting in Melbourne on Monday.
Roger Federer kept alive hopes of a Swiss double when he beat third-seeded American teenager Andy Roddick 7-5, 6-4 to reach the men's final.
Federer, seeded second, will play Juan Ignacio Chela in Saturday's final after the Argentinian qualifier beat Belarussian Max Mirnyi 6-4, 6-4.