Agassi forced to pull out with wrist injury

Andre Agassi will not defend his Australian Open title after withdrawing from the tournament this morning with a wrist injury. The American former world No 1 was aiming to become the first player since Roy Emerson in 1965 to win three successive titles in the event.

The announcement of Agassi's withdrawal came just a day after the American had said he felt in peak physical shape in a bid for his third successive Australian Open title.

"Tennis-wise I am where I want to be at the moment. I have had a great week of preparation," Agassi had said yesterday.

The 31-year-old, seeded third in the draw, had reached the final of the Commonwealth Bank International at nearby Kooyong on Saturday and even after losing 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 to his great rival, Pete Sampras, had made no mention of his wrist problem. Sampras could be the main beneficiary as the pair were scheduled to play in the quarter-finals at Melbourne.

Agassi was due to begin his title defence with a first-round match against Byron Black, of Zimbabwe, today, but decided there was no point waiting to see if another 24 hours would bring any improvement.

There were also injury worries about the defending women's champion, Jennifer Capriati, and the fifth seed, Serena Williams. Capriati is expected to recover from hip trouble in time to play her opening match against Silvija Talaja tomorrow, butWilliams, struggling with a right ankle strain, was not granted a day off as she had requested and is scheduled to play the former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez today.

Greg Rusedski became the first British winner of the Heineken Open since Roger Taylor in 1970 when he recorded a three-set victory over Jerome Golmard in Auckland on Saturday. The sixth seed claimed a 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 victory over his French opponent.

Rusedski had to come from behind having lost the first set on a tie-break following a rain delay, which had forced the players off court with the score 6-5 in Rusedski's favour. But the British No 2 displayed a new-found resilience, breaking Golmard's serve in the third game of the second set and holding on to the break to level the match.

The deciding set was another tight affair, but Rusedski once again managed to find the all-important break. But he failed to make his advantage count and allowed Golmard to break back in the very next game. However, Rusedski held his nerve and managed to break Golmard again for 6-5 and served out the match at 7-5.

"Having three-set matches every round, nothing surprised me when I dropped a set," Rusedski said. "I just raise my level when I get behind in a tough match. Whenever I've needed to lift, I've managed to lift and that is the key."

There was a Swiss double in the Sydney International, with Martina Hingis clinching successive Sydney titles with a 6-2, 6-3 win over the No 8 seed Meghann Shaughnessy and Roger Federer taking the men's title.

It was Hingis's first title in 11 months and a first finals appearance since April last year for the former world No 1. Hingis dropped just one set en route to the championship in her first tournament back after three months on the sidelines with an ankle injury. "I think I surprised everyone by coming back and winning this tournament, but I surprised myself the most,"she said. "I feel good."

The 21-year-old Swiss withdrew from Friday's doubles final after suffering heat exhaustion and aching legs in her singles semi-final win over Kim Clijsters. But she showed no signs of pain in the final, dominating at the net and hitting 22 winners.

Hingis broke in the second game and had a 3-0 lead before Shaughnessy held serve. The former No 1 did not miss a first serve in the first set, securing it on a service break in the eighth game. The match was all over in 58 minutes when Shaughnessy sent a backhand long to give Hingis match point and then put her next backhand into the net.

Federer secured his second career ATP Tour title with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Juan Ignacio Chela at the Sydney International. The second seed wrapped up proceedings in just 50 minutes against the Argentinian, who was attempting to become the first qualifier ever to win the tournament.