Russian tennis star Nadia Petrova has pulled out of January's Australian Open following the death in a car accident of her mother, herself an Olympic athletics bronze medallist
She had also held the USSR record in both the 400 metres and the 4x400 metres relay as well as the world record for 400 metres indoors.
"Our condolences to Nadia Petrova who's withdrawn from Ausopen following the tragic loss of her mother," the Australian Open organisers said.
