RUSSIAN Mikhail Youzhny will not defend his title at the ATP Malaysian Open after injuring his back during his country's Davis Cup tie against Brazil over the weekend.
The 29-year-old said on Russian television on Sunday that he would take an indefinite break and would not come to Kuala Lumpur.
Youzhny's elder brother, Andrei Youzhny, who is coaching several young Russian players in Uzbekistan, confirmed that Youzhny would not be participating in the Malaysian Open when contacted yesterday by Uzbek-based former Malaysian national coach Fadhillah Ghani.
Malaysian Open tournament director Nick Freyer, however, said he has yet to hear from the player, or his agent about Mikhail's withdrawal.
Youzhny helped Russia beat Brazil 3-2 in a Davis Cup tie last weekend. He won both his matches, including a bruising 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 14-12 victory over Thomas Belucci.
Youzhny's withdrawal from the Malaysian Open threatens to end Russia's stranglehold which saw Nikolai Davydenko and Youzhny winning the past two editions.
Davydenko will compete in the Malaysian Open this year. However, a poor season has put him as a long shot for a second title. The other Russian left in the field is Dmitry Tursunov.
Youzhny stopped the rousing run of underdog Andrey Golubev in the Malaysian Open final last year, clinching a 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) win in two hours and 32 minutes. - Fadhli Ishak (NST)
