(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-02 16:51

PERTH - World number three Jelena Jankovic was forced to retire from her singles match at the Hopman Cup on Wednesday with a thigh injury and placed her Australian Open campaign in doubt.

The Serbian, who was playing just the first game of her match with Tatiana Golovin of France, clutched the top of her right hamstring before she received treatment from the physiotherapist and though she tried to play on, was forced to withdraw midway through the second game.

"The injury is at the top of her hamstring," tournament director Paul McNamee told reporters. "We suspect it's torn, but we won't know the full extent of it until after the scan.

"She hasn't pulled out of the mixed (doubles) yet but we'll know more after the scan."

Earlier this week, Jankovic had promised to cut back on her schedule, having played a WTA Tour-high 97 matches last year.

The Serbian began practising only two weeks before the start of the Hopman Cup after having nose surgery in November to cure breathing problems.

If Jankovic is unable to play in the mixed doubles with Novak Djokovic, France will win the match and be favourites to reach Friday's final.

Both Serbia and France had won their opening matches of the eight-nation mixed team event.

The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on January 14.