Top-seeded Dechy injured at Canberra

CANBERRA, Australia, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Top seed Nathalie Dechy of France was forced to withdraw from her opening-round match Tuesday at the Canberra Women's Classic, but is optimistic about taking part in next week's Australian Open.

Dechy won her first WTA Tour title last week at Gold Coast, despite suffering from a quadriceps strain. She re-aggravated the injury during the warmup and retired after falling behind lucky loser Marlene Weingartner of Germany, 5-0, in the first set.

"It is an injury I have been carrying since late last year," Dechy said. "I was hoping that with two days rest the injury might improve, but that wasn't the case. I am disappointed that I must retire from the tournament, but I am hopeful that I will be able to still play in Melbourne."

By winning at Gold Coast, Dechy rose to a career-high ranking of No. 19. She is expected to be seeded 16th for the Australian Open, which begins next Monday.

Dechy became the top seed and Weingartner gained a spot in the main draw on Saturday when defending champion Anna Pistolesi of Israel pulled out with heat exhaustion suffered during a semifinal match at Auckland last week.

Second seed Meghann Shaugnessy of the United States cruised past Virginie Razzano of France, 6-3, 6-2, in a first-round match Tuesday in 104-degree heat.

"I don't mind playing in the heat, and I think it is a good way to prepare for Melbourne," said Shaughnessy, an Arizona native.

Shaughnessy withdrew from Gold Coast last week after rolling her left ankle. She played Tuesday with her ankle heavily bandaged, but was not hampered against Razzano.

"The ankle is feeling OK," she said. "I will continue to get treatment through the week but at the moment it feels fine."

The 23-year-old American next takes on Spanish qualifier Conchita Martinez Granados.

In second-round action, fifth seed Francesca Schiavone beat fellow Italian Tathiana Garbin, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2; eighth-seeded Magui Serna of Spain overcame Germany's Anca Barna, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5; and Italy's Adriana Serra-Zanetti topped Japanese qualifier Saori Obata, 6-4, 6-1.