Posted at 6:17 a.m., Sunday, January 6, 2008
Tennis: Mauresmo, Li withdraw from Sydney tourney
Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia — Amelie Mauresmo and China's Li Na have withdrawn from the Sydney International, the last major tuneup event before the Jan. 14 start of the Australian Open.Mauresmo has a left adductor strain and Li has a right knee injury, tournament officials said today.
"Unfortunately I have re-injured my left adductor," Mauresmo said in a statement. "I felt it yesterday during my training session and did not practice today. This is an injury that I am familiar with and know that it will not get better overnight."
Mauresmo won the tournament in 2000, and was a finalist in 2004.
Li, the last player into the main draw, won the Australian women's hardcourt on the Gold Coast on Saturday in her first tournament back after a six-month layoff due to a rib injury.
"The problem with my knee seemed to get a little worse after I tried to practice this morning and I just could not move very well," Li said.
In first-round women's play, the Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova beat Alicia Molik 7-6 (2), 7-6 (12-10). The Australian wild card had beaten Safarova in straight sets at the Hopman Cup in Perth nine days previously.
