US Open Suffers Loss Of Power

Twice champion Jonathon Power has withdrawn from this week's US Open, citing an injury sustained during last week's Hong Kong Open.

In a brief message posted on his personal website this morning, the Canadian says: "I'm really disappointed but unfortunately I have not been able to recover from the injury that I sustained in Hong Kong. My focus now is to get in top shape because it is a busy season. I am going to need to be 100% in order to get back to the #1 ranking."

North America's most successful player of all time later explained to the PSA: "Playing with Anthony Ricketts three days before the Hong Kong Open, I suffered a torn gluteus minimus which made it impossible to lunge on my left leg. Fortunately my right leg is my dominant leg and I was able to play with relative success in Hong Kong. The courts in Hong Kong were really dead, which suits an attacking player - which was good for me, until I encountered a top player that could pick some of my good shots and I wasn't quick enough on one leg to cover his reply.

"After returning from Hong Kong I underwent treatment with my therapists but the injury has not fully healed in time. With 7 tournaments in the upcoming 2 months and with the goal of returning to #1 in the World, I need this extra time to heal. My next event will be the St. Louis Open beginning September 30."

Power, five-times a US Open finalist and champion in 1997 and 2000, was the sixth seed in the 2004 event which takes place at the Boston Symphony Hall from 18-21 September.

"Jonathon is a dynamic presence in any event and, as a two-time winner of the US Open, will be sorely missed here in Boston this year," said event promoter John Nimick on hearing the news.

The revised draw elevates Australia's Joseph Kneipp to eighth seed and brings Power's compatriot and one-time training partner Graham Ryding into the main draw - world No10 Kneipp facing Egypt's Omar Elborolossy and Ryding another Egyptian, the reigning world champion Amr Shabana.

Power has been plagued with injury over recent times: The 30-year-old former world No1 crashed out of the Brit Insurance Super Series Finals in London in May after sustaining a clearly painful injury to his left ankle. He made his comeback at this month's Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open, where he apparently suffered a minor leg muscle injury during training.

Revised 1st round draw:
[1] Peter Nicol (ENG) v Anthony Ricketts (AUS)
[7] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Qualifier
[3] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Qualifier
[8] Joseph Kneipp (AUS) v Omar Elborolossy (EGY)
[5] John White (SCO) v Qualifier
[4] David Palmer (AUS) v James Willstrop (ENG)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Graham Ryding (CAN)
[2] Lee Beachill (ENG) v Qualifier