WORLD number four Yevgeny Kafelnikov is doubtful for the US Open after suffering a rib injury in practice. The injury has forced the Russian to withdraw from the Hamlet Cup tournament in Commack, New York, where he was seeded second.

Kafelnikov, 22, has been ordered to rest by his orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Nathan Breazeale, who said that Kafelnikov, the French Open champion, had suffered "a lower left side and back rib strain."

Kafelnikov was in obvious discomfort but said: "I don't know about the Open. I plan to stay in the draw but if I don't play tennis until Friday, I can't play the Open. I'd be out of shape and can't compete 100 per cent like you have to in the Open."