Sydney - 2008 Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga remained flat on his back in bed on Friday after withdrawing from an ATP quarter-final, his hopes of playing the Grand Slam starting Monday looking grim.
Doctors say the Frenchman, who lost the January 2008 title match to Novak Djokovic, said he is suffering form a bulging disc and will need to remain in bed for several days.
Sydney - Serena Williams felt the effects of a long night match and the searing heat as the top seed crashed out of the Medibank International 6-3, 6-1 to Olympic champion Elena Dementieva on Thursday.
Williams, second in the world, was coming off a nearly three-hour effort the previous evening against Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki, where she had to save match points for the second time this week.
The 27-year-old American's early season fitness wilted in the summer heat as Dementieva went through into the final - a repeat of the Beijing Olympic gold medal match - against Dinara Safina despite firing six double-faults.
Melbourne - Roger Federer got in a good workout as he won the semifinal of the AAMI Classic on Thursday, holding off Spain's Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) at the Australian Open tune-up event.
2006 Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, beaten by the Swiss three years ago in the Melbourne Park title match, finally had something to smile about after winning a relegation round match at the eight-man event.
The Cypriot defeated Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.
Auckland - German Philipp Kohlschreiber faces a fitness fight for Monday's start of the Australian Open after the Heineken Open holder pulled out before his Thursday quarter-final with a shoulder injury.
The decision handed a walkover to Spanish second seed David Ferrer and prevented a challenge between the last two winners of the ATP event.
Melbourne - Women's draw made on Friday for the 15.5- million-dollar Australian Open.
Melbourne - Men's draw made Friday for the 15.5-million- dollar Australian Open.
Sydney - 2008 Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga remained flat on his back in bed on Friday after withdrawing from an ATP quarter-final, his hopes of playing the Grand Slam starting Monday looking grim.
Melbourne - Roger Federer got in a good workout as he won the semifinal of the AAMI Classic on Thursday, holding off Spain's Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) at the Australian Open tune-up event.
Auckland - German Philipp Kohlschreiber faces a fitness fight for Monday's start of the Australian Open after the Heineken Open holder pulled out before his Thursday quarter-final with a shoulder injury.
