Federer rekindles Australian Open scheduling debate

MELBOURNE, Jan 10 (Reuters) Roger Federer renewed calls to stage the Australian Open later in the year after the intense build-up to next week's grand slam tournament resulted in a spate of injuries.

''It would be nice if the Australian Open would be a bit later, because if that would happen we would have a bit more time in the off season,'' the world number one told reporters at the invitational Kooyong Classic.

''But because the first grand slam is just around the corner, basically that's why we don't have any rest.'' Federer blamed scheduling of the season's opening major for the growing list of injuries in the warm-up tournaments over the past two weeks.

World number two Rafael Nadal became the most high profile casualty yesterday when he pulled out of the Sydney International with a right thigh strain.

He was joined on the withdrawal list by Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova, and Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan.

Injuries as well as the stifling heat were the most common complaints.

Local hope Lleyton Hewitt and Argentina's David Nalbandian are also nursing niggling strains.

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