Days before Australian Open,champ Clijsters injured

The 28-year-old four-times grand-slam champion returned but lost the next game and then retired with the score at 6-7 3-1.

Hantuchova,who received a walkover into the semi-finals after Serena Williams pulled out with an ankle injury,will meet Kaia Kanepi in the final on Saturday after the big-hitting Estonian demolished Francesca Schiavone 6-3 6-0 in 56 minutes.

I felt my left hip was getting tighter and tighter to the point I couldnt move forward with my upper body, said Belgian Clijsters,adding that she had felt tightness in her hip before the semi-final. The smartest choice was not to let it get any worse and try to be right for Melbourne. If everything comes out okay tomorrow it should take a little (less than) a week to get completely healed.

The Australian Open,the years first grand-slam,begins on January 16.

In the Brisbane mens draw,top seed Andy Murray looked far sharper than in his earlier matches and romped into the semi-finals with a 6-2 6-2 thrashing of Marcos Baghdatis. Murray broke the Cypriots serve four times and served out in 66 minutes.

Murray will now meet Bernard Tomic after the Australian beat Uzbekistans Denis Istomin 6-3 7-6.

Federer pulls out from Qatar

Defending champion Roger Federer pulled out of his semifinal against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Qatar Open because of a back injury on Friday but said he expects to be fit for the Australian Open. It is only the second time the 30-year-old Swiss has pulled out of a tournament due to injury in his career.

I dont feel a whole lot of improvement,and I just dont think its the right time to risk anything more right now, Federer said. I still have pain,and thats why it was the only right decision,a difficult one for me … So its a sad moment for me and for the tournament and for the fans,but health goes first.

Federer said he has tried several treatments including massage and baths after he first felt the injury during his second round match against qualifier Grega Zemlja. He played against Seppi but struggled to a three-set victory,trailing 5-1 during the second set and looking out of sorts. But afterward,he said nothing about the injury.

Monfils stuns Nadal

Gael Monfils stunned Rafael Nadal 6-3,6-4 in the semifinals of the Qatar Open on Friday to line up an unexpected all-French final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Monfils,who had only beaten Nadal once before in nine meetings,started well with a strong first serve and an ability to chase down nearly every shot.

Monfils broke Nadal to go up 4-2 in the first set. Nadal recovered to lead 4-1 in the second set but Monfils stepped up his game. He won 16 of 21 points, including several jump volleys,and broke twice to go 5-4 up before closing out the match when Nadal hit a return wide.