Defending champion Marcos Baghdatis has pulled out of the Sydney International due to a groin strain. The second seed did not want to risk playing because of the Australian Open coming next week.
“It’s been on my left groin,” he told reporters. “It’s been four days I have pain. I don’t want to risk too much by going in the match and making it worse, so I took the decision today with my team not to participate here.”
Polish Lukas Kubot will replace him in the main draw.
“I’m a bit disappointed,” Baghdatis added. “I’m the defending champion here and I wanted to play so much… It was not an easy one, but sometimes you have to take decisions that are not easy.”