Injured Nadal retires from Sydney International

SYDNEY, Jan 9 (Reuters) World number two Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Sydney International with a leg injury today, less than week before the Australian Open.

Nadal was trailing Australian wildcard Chris Guccione 6-5 in the first set when he called it quits.

Nadal, beaten in the semi-finals at Chennai last week, called for medical treatment after the seventh game but managed only four more before he was forced to retire.

The Spaniard missed last year's Australian Open because of a foot injury but retained his French Open title to finish the year ranked second behind Roger Federer.

Reuters PDS DB1207