Groin injury hits Mauresmo plans

Mauresmo is a former Australian Open winner

Amelie Mauresmo's Australian Open preparations suffered a setback when she was forced to pull out of her last pre-tournament warm-up event.

The former world number one, who last week returned to action for the first time since October, misses the Sydney International with a groin strain.

"I have re-injured my left adductor. I felt it in training and did not practice the next day," she said.

"I'm familiar with this injury. It will not get better overnight. I must rest."

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Mauresmo, who won both the Australian Open title and Wimbledon in 2006, was forced out of last year's American Open with a similar injury.

This year's Australian Open starts on 14 January.