Safin out of Aussie Open

The first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, has already been hit by the withdrawals of Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal and champion Marat Safin.

"I don't think it takes a brain surgeon to figure out why a lot of people are getting hurt," said the American.

"The players are becoming stronger and it's tougher on the body."

The 23-year-old missed the Masters Cup in Shanghai last November with a back strain and has already complained about the length of the season.

I think it is being acknowledged now that something needs to be done Andy Roddick

The sport has seen many of the world's leading players suffer with a various list of injuries in recent times.

Roger Federer, Serena and Venus Williams, as well as Justine Henin-Hardenne among others, have fallen victim to the gruelling schedule.

And Roddick wants to make sure players have an off-season break so that they have time to recover.

"Someone has to give a little bit," he said. "The tournament directors, the International Tennis Federation, the Grand Slams, the Davis Cup, they're all different entities.

"You would think they'd want to work together for the greater good but they all want their own little slice of the pie and don't seem willing to give it up.

"As with most things it comes down to business, and dollars and cents and not common logic of what's best for the game.

"I have spoken to the leaders that be and I think it is being acknowledged now that something needs to be done."

Roddick says forming a players' union could help but believes getting one started would be very difficult.

"Try to get 100 players from different countries with all sorts of language barriers and get them all on the same page," he said.

"This is an individual sport and for each person that says 'we're not healthy', there's another guy who says 'hey I need those two extra weeks at the end of the year for prize money'."