Agassi out of Aussie Open

Every day seems to bring news of another player falling victim to the gruelling schedule.

There are not many among the leading contenders who are not either going down with, or coming back from, injury.

So who is heading to Melbourne in the best of shape, and who is carrying a doctor's note?

AGASSI - With four Aussie titles to his name the 35-year-old did everything possible to make his most realistic shot at another Grand Slam victory, but he cannot shake off an ankle injury. Unlikely ever to play in Australia again.

Safin/Nadal out of Open

NADAL - The world number two succumbed to a persistent foot injury that he picked up at the end of last year.

SAFIN - The defending champion is a huge favourite with the Melbourne crowd but they will have to live without their fix of Russian moodiness this year. The knee injury which has sidelined him since August is still bothering him.

Beaten Hewitt refuses to blame illness

HEWITT - With those around him struggling and after an off-season of hard graft, could this be Lleyton's best-ever chance of the home win he craves? Not if he cannot shake the stomach bug he picked up in Sydney.

NALBANDIAN - His win over Federer in Shanghai last year suggested he will be a real contender in Melbourne, but he pulled out of his only warm-up tournament with a virus.

Clijsters still doubtful for Open

CLIJSTERS - The US Open champion was one of the favourites to triumph in Melbourne until pulling out of the Sydney warm-up event with "terrible" pain in her hip. She plans to play, but will she be at her best?

SERENA - The women's champ insists she will defend her title but after a leg injury at the end of 2005 she began this year with a heavy defeat to Elena Dementieva in Hong Kong, then complained of a knee injury.

Serena hit by knee injury

VENUS - After a thumping loss to Lindsay Davenport in Hong Kong, Wimbledon champion Venus complained of back and pelvis problems.

Federer retains Qatar title

FEDERER - He's back, he's already won a title in Doha and he didn't drop a set. Even so, the heavy ankle brace is a sign of how serious last year's injury was and seven five-set matches in Melbourne's heat will be a huge test.

SHARAPOVA - The Aussies love "Shazza" and the Russian has promised to play through the pain in the first Grand Slam of the year despite being diagnosed with a dislocated rib.

HENIN-HARDENNE - The last two years have been a nightmare of injury and illness for the Belgian, interrupted by a French Open title. A leg injury kept her out from October and she is playing down her chances in Melbourne.

RODDICK - Almost the forgotten man among the world's leading players after a quiet 2005, he has spent the winter break working hard on his fitness and a new, more aggressive gameplan.

DAVENPORT - Injury problems almost caused the American to quit a year ago but she has since gone on to become world number one. A first Grand Slam title since 2000 is well overdue.