TENNIS:The build up to next week's Australian Open claimed four more casualties yesterday when Rafael Nadal, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadia Petrova and Paradorn Srichaphan pulled out of the Sydney International.
World number two Nadal was trailing Australian wildcard Chris Guccione 6-5 when the Spaniard pulled out of their first-round encounter.
Second-seeded Russian Kuznetsova was 6-2 down in her second-round match with Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik when she said she was unable to continue due to breathing problems.
Fellow country woman Petrova, seeded four, pulled out of her clash with Serb Ana Ivanovic because of stomach cramps when trailing 6-2 4-2 while Paradorn blamed a wrist injury for quitting when 6-2 3-0 down against Czech qualifier Ivo Minar.
But injury-prone Belgian Kim Clijsters demolished Australian wildcard Nicole Pratt to charge into the quarter-finals while top seed Amelie Mauresmo struggled in the Australian summer heat before beating Frenchwoman Tatiana Golovin.
Nadal, who missed last year's Australian Open with a foot injury, called for medical help after the seventh game before eventually retiring four games later. He said he was feeling pain in his right thigh and that his withdrawal was purely precautionary.
"I'm going to play (the Australian Open) for sure. There's nothing broken," said Nadal.
Guccione, who reached his first ATP final in Adelaide last week, said he had no inkling Nadal was injured until he called for help.
Kuznetsova, Petrova and Paradorn also said they would be fit in time for the year's first grand slam, Kuznetsova saying she would play even if she was still sick.
Third seed Clijsters followed up her weekend victory over Maria Sharapova in Hong Kong by crushing Pratt 6-1 6-2 with a powerful display that augers well for her prospects in Melbourne in her farewell season on the circuit.
"I'm happy with that, it's always nice to have these kind of matches at the start of a tournament," Clijsters said.
Australian Open champion Mauresmo overcame a nervous start to overcome compatriot Golovin 6-7 7-5 6-1. "It's the kind of match that is good for you," Mauresmo said.
The top seed, playing her first competitive match in Australia since her breakthrough victory at last year's Open, plays Jelena Jankovic for a place in the semis after the in-form Serb beat home player Samantha Stosur 6-2 7-6.
Third seed James Blake made a flying start to his title defence with a 6-3 6-4 first-round win over fellow American Kevin Kim.
Blake enjoyed his best season last year, winning five titles, and is the second highest-ranked player left in the men's tournament behind second-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko.
Meanwhile Serena Williams squeezed past Czech Lucie Safarova 6-3 3-6 7-6 to book a quarter-final spot in the Hobart International against Austrian Sybille Bammer, who romped past second seed Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-4 6-3.
Alicia Molik kept home interest alive with a 6-3 7-5 win over Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko, while top seed Anna Chakvetadze, India's Sania Mirza and China's Zheng Jie also advanced.
