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Highlights - Tsonga beats Nadal in Melbourne

Last year's runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is a doubt for the Australian Open after withdrawing from the Sydney International with a back injury.

The Frenchman pulled out of Thursday's semi-final against Jarkko Nieminen.

"I hope it will not affect me for the Australian Open but I don't know," he said. "I had a problem with my disc a long time ago, sometimes it happens."

Tsonga, seeded fifth for Melbourne, beat Andy Murray in the first round on his way to the final last year.

"I saw my physio a lot yesterday," he added. "I saw the physio from the ATP. I saw the doctor and they told me it's difficult to play like that.

Long matches don't bother me at this stage Roger Federer

"I can't do anything for the next two days. I will stay maybe in my bed and hope I will be better."

Meanwhile, Roger Federer battled his way into the final of the Kooyong Classic exhibition event on Thursday with victory over Spain's Fernando Verdasco.

"It's good to be out there and get used to the court," said Federer. "Long matches don't bother me at this stage.

"If I was practising I'd be practising for two to three hours anyway. Either way I will be playing enough tennis this week but it is good to be out on the match court."

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In Auckland, top seed Juan Martin del Potro defeated Viktor Troicki 6-3 6-2 to reach the last four, while second seed David Ferrer had a walkover against Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Defending Champion Kohlschreiber withdrew because of a shoulder injury, and the German said: "I need to what is best for my shoulder.

"I felt fine after last night. But after five minutes of my warm-up I was feeling big pain in my arm and I felt pain no matter what shot I was playing."

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