TENNIS: World number two Rafael Nadal and defending champion Marat Safin of Russia are the latest to pull out of next week's Australian Open.

Nadal, the 19-year-old Spaniard, said yesterday he was nearly recovered from a foot injury but was not able to face the demands of a grand slam tournament.

Safin (25), was sidelined for the second half of 2005 by a knee injury, and although he is now practising, he is not yet ready to return to grand slam action.

Safin told his website: "I am very sad that I cannot go to the Australian Open to defend my title as champion.

"I have been working very hard and it is a lot better. In my heart I know I want to be at the Australian Open to try to play, but I have had to listen to what (my coach), my team and also myself are saying that it would not be right to put so much test on my knee right now."