Walking wounded pay price of practice

When the professional tennis tours decided to shorten their respective seasons a few years ago, it was hoped it would extend the longevity of players at the top and cut down on the number of injuries.

At this year's Australian Open, though, players were once more dropping like flies, denting the draws and leaving the physiotherapists at Melbourne Park severely overworked.

The nine first-round retirements, eight men and one woman, equaled the record for the most retirements or walkovers in a Grand Slam event.