Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova Pulls Out Of Sydeny International

World No.8 Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova is battling an abdominal muscle injury ahead of next week's Australian Open after pulling out of the Sydney International on Wednesday.

Kuznetsova, the tournament No.5 seed, pulled out before her quarter-final giving Japan's Ai Sugiyama a walkover into the semi-finals against No.2 seed Dinara Safina who defeated French teenager Alize Cornet 6-3 6-4.

The 2004 US Open champion strained her abdominal muscles during the third set of her second round victory over Estonia's Kaia Kanepi on Tuesday, but woke on Wednesday in discomfort.

You never know. I'll do my best to recovery. I will try to be fit for Australian Open," she said.

"The physio is telling me to rest two days and not to do anything. Stretch it a lot and do treatment."

News Source: www.foxsports.com.au