Henin, Henman added to list of high-profile withdrawals

The Australian Open looks certain to go ahead again without many of the sport's biggest names after confirmation world number one Justin Henin-Hardenne was pulling out of the first grand slam of 2007.

Tournament organisers said yesterday that the Belgian, Australian Open champion in 2004 and runner-up last year, would miss the tournament for "personal reasons".

Belgian media reported that Henin-Hardenne had split from her husband and coach Pierre Yves.

Henin-Hardenne's withdrawal is another blow to an event that was already resigned to missing several high-profile players before it gets underway on January 15.

British number two Tim Henman will also miss the Australian Open after aggravating a knee injury while practising before Christmas.

Four-times champion and crowd favourite Andre Agassi, a staunch supporter of the event when many top Americans did not come to Melbourne, announced his retirement after last year's US Open.

Melbourne's favourite son Mark Philippoussis is also out after being told he needs knee surgery and former champion Mary Pierce of France has also succumbed to a knee problem. Former French Open champion Anastasia Myskina hurt her toe in Auckland this week and flew home to Moscow for treatment and Argentine David Nalbandian is struggling to overcome tendinitis in his knee.

American Venus Williams is also in doubt after pulling out of the Hopman Cup with a wrist injury, although her younger sister Serena is confirmed as a starter after missing the event in the past.

It is not unusual for top players to miss the Australian Open through injuries suffered the previous season, but this year's drop-out rate could be higher than normal.

Australia's scorching summer heat, with on-court temperatures often exceeding 45 degrees Celsius, is an added problem.

Players have long been demanding the first grand slam of the year be moved back to March when the weather is cooler.

Tennis Australia officials did agree to push this year's tournament back one week but later scrapped the plan.

• Martina Hingis and Dinara Safina stayed on course for a meeting in the final of the Australian women's hardcourt tennis championships. Top-seeded Swiss Hingis continued her imperious run with a 6-3 6-1 destruction of Colombia's Catalina Castano, and has lost just seven games in her three matches so far. Hingis will face Tathiana Garbin for a place in the final. Ana Ivanovic of Serbia fell in three sets to Israel's Shahar Peer 5-7 6-4 6-4. The latter now faces Safina who ended hopes of a home victory by disposing of Samantha Stosur.

• Lleyton Hewitt crashed out of the Adelaide International at the hands of world number 94 Igor Kunitsyn of Russia yesterday. The Australian, who said last week he was playing better than when he topped the world rankings, lost 4-6 7-6 6-4 in his final pool match.