Former Wimbledon finalist Nalbandian withdraws from Australian Open with abdominal injury

Injury forces Nalbandian out of Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia — Former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian withdrew from the Australian Open on Wednesday following another injury setback.

The 28-year-old Argentine player was about to return from an eight-month injury layoff when he strained abdominal muscles warming up for a match against Philipp Kohlschreiber at Auckland on Tuesday.

He waited a day to assess the extent of the injury before informing Australian Open organizers that he was unfit to contest the opening Grand Slam event of the season, which starts Monday at Melbourne Park.

The former No. 3-ranked Nalbandian hasn’t played a tournament since undergoing surgery on his right hip in May.

Nalbandian reached the quarterfinals or better at the Australian Open from 2003 to 2006 but hasn’t gone past the fourth round since.

He hasn’t played a major since his second-round exit at the last Australian Open, less than a week after he won his 10th career title with a victory at the Sydney International.

Nalbandian didn’t make any immediate comment about his withdrawal but earlier said he was very disappointed after sustaining the injury in Auckland, New Zealand.

“I didn’t play much tennis for eight months so it is natural to suffer some small injuries,” he said. “Although I am disappointed at the moment, I remain confident and positive about making a full-time comeback to the tour soon.”

Nalbandian finished outside the year-end top 10 in 2008 for the first time in six years, despite helping Argentina to the Davis Cup final and reaching a career-high five ATP tour finals in the year.

His ranking slumped to No. 64 by the end of 2009, the first time he’d finished outside the top 50 since 2000.