NEW YORK, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Open champion Marat Safin of Russia has withdrawn from the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament because of a wrist injury.
Guillermo Canas of Argentina also pulled out of the year's final Grand Slam event following wrist surgery. He was to play third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero, the French Open champion, in the first round.
Safin, 23, would have been the 26th seed, but he hasn't played in over month because of the injury. He has appeared in only nine tournaments this season, posting a 12-7 match record.
Most recently slowed by back and knee problems, Safin, who has 11 career titles, claimed his only Grand Slam title at the 2000 U.S. Open, beating retiring Pete Sampras in straight sets in the final. He reached the semifinals in 2001.
Canas, 25, has appeared in only two events this year, none since the Australian Open. He has never gotten out of the second round in three U.S. Open appearances.
The U.S. Open gets under way on Monday.
