Tennis: Baghdatis pulls out of Sydney with injury

Cyprus's Marcos Baghdatis. Photo / Greg Bowker

Defending champion and second seed Marcos Baghdatis pulled out of the Sydney International yesterday with a groin strain.

The Cypriot, beaten finalist at the 2006 Australian Open, said he did not want to risk worsening the problem before the opening grand slam of the year, which starts next week.

The world No 21 had been given a bye into the second round and will be replaced by Polish lucky loser Lukas Kubot.