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Spaniard Carlos Moya in action
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Credit: Clive Brunskill
ALLSPORT
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Moya set to miss out
by Andy McKenzie
Carlos Moya looks likely to miss the Australian Open in Melbourne after aggravating a back injury on January 4.
- The Spaniard was forced to withdraw from the Gold Flake Open in Madras, India after a reoccurrence of the injury
that kept him out of the 1999 US Open. He is now doubtful for the opening Grand Slam of the 21st century.
- The no. 3 seed for the Chennia tournament has not won an event since capturing his first
Grand Slam at the 1998 French Open. He was scheduled to play Uzbekistan's Oleg Ogorodov, but withdrew after
feeling pain during a morning practice session prior to the match.
- Moya revealed he will fly to Australia, where he would be having X-rays to determine the extent of the problem.
He said: "I'm always optimistic and there's still some time for the Australian Open. But if I'm not 100 percent
I'd rather not play."
- Yevgeny Kafelnikov, the defending Australian Open champion, also had a disappointing start to the
year after being knocked out in the first round by Michal Tabara of the Czech. Republic, who recorded his
inaugural win on the ATP Tour.
- The Russian, who finished 1999 as the world no. 2, lost in straight sets to Tabara 6-4, 6-2.
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