Safin in race for fitness

Safin lost in the final of the Australian Open last year

A shoulder injury forced Marat Safin to withdraw from the Sydney International on Thursday, prompting fears that the Russian may not be fit for next week's Australian Open.

Safin was due to meet Korean qualifier Lee Hyung-taik in Thursday's quarter-finals but had to pull out on medical advice because of problems with his serving shoulder.

"It hurts and I cannot serve, there's a lot of pain," Safin said.

I need to stop for a few days but I hope I will be okay, I'm not sure but there is a chance

Marat Safin

"(The doctor) said it's quite serious and it was better to stop right now."

Safin said he still expected to play in the Australian Open, which starts on Monday, but would ask officials for a late start to give him as much time as possible to recover.

He said he would fly to Melbourne on Thursday night to receive treatment and was prepared to play with painkillers to get him through the first few rounds.

"I need to stop for a few days but I hope I will be okay, I'm not sure but there is a chance," he said.

"I can play forehand, backhand, anything, expect serve.

"I'll be okay but I'll ask for a late start and try to recover."

Safin, seeded third this year, lost to Thomas Johansson in the 2002 Australian Open final.

The Russian also spoke out against the introduction of EPO testing this year.

"We go for too much.

"First of all, we have to go for the urine testing, now we have to go to EPO - I said to the ATP that I don't think it's correct, but they really didn't listen," Safin said.