Capriati joins Open absentees

Capriati won the Australian Open in 2001 and 2002

Two-time winner Jennifer Capriati is the latest big name to pull out of the Australian Open through injury.

The 27-year-old American misses the year's first grand slam because of a back injury sustained late last year.

Mary Pierce and Serena Williams have already pulled out of the Melbourne showpiece while world number two Kim Clijsters remains a major doubt after damaging an ankle.

The Australian Open begins on Monday.

Clijsters withdrew from her final Australian Open warm-up, the Sydney International, on Tuesday.

I have to think about my future.... I don't want to make things worse Kim Clijsters

The Belgian said she was forced to pull out after the ankle, which she injured in last week's Hopman Cup, flared up during practice.

She will wait a few days before making a decision on whether to compete at the Australian Open but she says her chances are slim.

"It's definitely in doubt," she said. "But I have to think about my future. I don't want to make things worse."

Clijsters is not the only star player facing a race against the clock to be fit.

Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui is sweating on a foot injury after pulling out of the warm-up Kooyong Classic in Melbourne.

His place in Wednesday's Kooyong exhibition event has been taken by 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson, who missed all of 2003 through injury.