Stubborn Paradorn Srichaphan paid the price for not resting his injured wrist as he was forced to retire during the first round of the Sydney International yesterday.

Nagged by a long-standing injury, which also resulted in a first- round defeat at the hands of Austrian Stefan Koubeck in Chennai last week, Paradorn had to call it quits while trailing Czech qualifier Ivo Minar 6-2 3-0 in his final tune-up event for the Australian Open next week.

The latest surrender poses the question whether the Thai stalwart will be fit to play in the year's first Grand Slam which kicks off in Melbourne on Monday. Paradorn has lost three out of his last four matches dating back to the Asian Games team event in Doha last December.

But his father Chanachai played down his son's condition, saying the country's ace player will be in good shape for the major.

"The injury is not serious. He retired just to keep himself fit for the Australian Open," said Chanachai, who is in Bangkok but mentors his son on the phone.

"Doctors said inflamed fascia inside his right wrist had caused the injury. After he returns from Australia, we will decide if it's necessary to take a break to heal it completely. But it is not a chronic injury that requires an operation," he added.

Chanachai reasoned that Paradorn, whose ranking slipped to 54 this week, had signed several deals to enter upcoming tournaments and treatment would disrupt his programme. He said the clay- court season, which begins around June, would be an ideal time for rehabilitation as the former world No 9 has a distaste for the slower surface.

Meanwhile, James Blake strengthened his title claims with an opening victory amid the demise of top seed Rafael Nadal on a day of withdrawals. American third seed Blake accounted for compatriot Kevin Kim 6-3 6-4 in the opening match on centre court.

Second seed Russian Nikolay Davydenko reached the last eight with a 3-6 6-3 6-4 win over American Vincent Spadea in the night match.

Defending champion Blake, who beat Russians Davydenko and Igor Andreev on the way to winning here last year, said he was looking for back-to-back Sydney wins to carry into next week's Australian Open.

"I came into last year with no real expectations. It's a very difficult draw, a lot of the top players, everyone looking to peak around this time and get ready for Australia," Blake said.

"It's not going to be easy, but I would love to have as much success as I had here last year and then maybe take it to Melbourne with even more confidence and hopefully go a little further."

Blake will take on Australian Nathan Healey in the quarter-finals after Healey downed Austrian Stefan Koubek 6-3 7-5.

World No2 Nadal withdrew with a right thigh injury in the first set of his opening match, throwing his Australian Open challenge into doubt.

Former world No 1 and French Open champion Carlos Moya needed two tiebreak sets to down Australian Luke Bourgeois, 7-6 (7/4) 4-6 7-6 (8/6) and will contest an all-Spanish quarter-final with eighth seed Fernando Verdasco.

Two Frenchmen, sixth seed Richard Gasquet, and Paul-Henri Mathieu, had victories, Gasquet knocking over compatriot Julien Benneteau 6-1 6-4 and Mathieu winning another all-French contest over Arnaud Clement, 7-6 (7/5) 6-4. Mathieu will play Davydenko next today, while Gasquet takes on German Benjamin Becker.

Meanwhile, in the women's draw, world No 3 Amelie Mauresmo battled through an all-French dogfight with Tatiana Golovin to reach the quarter-finals.

The top seed was under pressure deep in the second set before pulling away to win 6-7 (4/7) 7-5, 6-1 in the second round match.

It was a good two-and-a-half-hour hit-out for Mauresmo before she opens the defence of her Australian Open title.

Israeli Shahar Peer upset Swiss seventh seed Patty Schnyder 7-6 (7/3) 6-1 and will face the challenge of third seed Kim Clijsters, who brushed aside Australian Nicole Pratt, 6-1 6-2.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation