The 22-year-old Swiss player has been troubled by an injured left ankle and told organizers she needed to continue rehabilitation from surgery and wouldn't be ready for the Jan. 13-26 tournament.

``We were surprised, but naturally very pleased, when Martina submitted an entry for Australian Open given her injury problems. However it sent out a strong message that she desperately wanted to come down to Australia to play,'' Australian Open chief executive Paul McNamee said Tuesday.

``Martina has an amazing record at the Australian Open, having played in the last six singles finals, and I'm sure she would have relished the challenge of trying to make a seventh consecutive final against such a strong women's field.''

Hingis won three consecutive Australian singles titles from 1997. Her win at Melbourne Park in 1999 was the last of her five career Grand Slam singles titles.