CHENNAI, India (AFP) ― Third seed Fabio Fognini of Italy joined the growing injury list at the ATP Chennai Open on Thursday, leaving him uncertain of playing in the season’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, in mid-January.

The Italian world number 16, who had on Monday withdrawn from the doubles due to a thigh injury, retired from his second-round match against Indian wildcard Yuki Bhambri after an hour’s play on the centre court.

The 195th-ranked Bhambri won the first set 6-1, and the scores were tied 5-5 in the second set when Fognini decided to quit the match.

The Italian became the sixth player and the third seeded star after number two Mikhail Youzhny of Russia and defending champion Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia to pull out of the $450,000 season-opener.

“I feel very bad that I am not being able to compete in this tournament,” the 26-year-old Fognini said. “I felt okay for the last two days, but there was a lot of pain during the match.

”I really don’t know what I will do now. Whether I should go home, or go to Sydney to practice. At this stage I can’t say I will be fit for the Australian Open.