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.

"I will see. I will take some rest, and I will see how I feel in maybe two days," said the disappointed world number six. "I'll stay in my bed, and I hope I will be better after."

Tsonga had been bothered by his back all week, but it got worse before his scheduled quarter-final with Finn Jarkko Nieminen.

The first major of the season has already been hit by pullouts from two injured Russians, with women's defending champion Maria Sharapova out with her continuing shoulder problem and Nikolay Davydenko hobbled by a heel injury. (dpa)