Johansson Out with Injury, Hewitt Wins at ATP Sydney

Big-serving Swede Joachim “The Jackhammer” Johansson saw his Australian Open hopes dim Wednesday at the ATP stop in Sydney when he was forced to retire during his match with Max “The Beast” Mirnyi with a right hamstring pull.

"I tried to go out there today for a few games but I felt I couldn't give 100 per cent," Johansson said. "At this level, there's no way now you can win a match (with an injury)."

Johansson said he was not too familiar with the injury, and didn’t know if he could recover in time for next week’s Australian Open.

The No. 3 Johansson was the only seeded upset on the day, with seeded winners (1) Lleyton Hewitt (d. (Q) Clement), (4) Andrei Pavel (d. Nieminen), (5) Feliciano “F-Lo” Lopez (d. Llodra 7-6 in the third), (7) Thomas “Tommy the J.” Johansson (d. (WC) Arthurs in two tiebreaks), and (8) Taylor Dent (d. Fish).

Other unseeded winners into the quarterfinals Wednesday were Czechs Radek Stepanek (d. Andreev in three) and qualifier Ivo Minar (d. Fernando “Hot Sauce” Verdasco).

The hot Australian conditions are forecasted to get even more unbearable as the week goes on in Sydney, which is all right with Hewitt.

"This is what you expect in the Australian summer," Hewitt said. "It's pretty enjoyable to play out there for myself. I know I've done all the hard work, I've prepared as well as possible."