MONICA SELES has broken a finger in a freak accident as she prepared to defend her Australian Open tennis title next month.

She was injured while warming up for an exhibition match in the Czech Republic last week. The injury came as she fried to catch a tennis ball.

The broken finger is on her right hand but although the four times Australian Open champion is lefthanded she uses two handed swings. It's too early to say if the injury will prevent her from playing in Australia, where she has never lost. Doctors will re examine the finger in two weeks' time.