It's already hard to keep up with the retirements

Yesterday, it was Flavia Pennetta who had to retire while playing Eugenie Bouchard in the Hopman Cup. The really bad news is that it was her wrist--the one that required the surgery. Pennetta said she thought the problem was a simple inflammation, but that leaves with her having to figure out how to prevent future inflammation.

Earlier in the week, Sabine Lisicki had to withdraw from Brisbane because of illness, Timea Babos had to retire in Shenzhen because of gastrointestinal illness, and Ashleigh Barty retired in Brisbane because of an adductor injury, and Alexandra Cadantu retired in Auckland. Also retiring in Brisbane was Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who hurt her thigh. Caroline Wozniacki never even made it to the court for round 1 because of a shoulder injury.

Aga Radwanska's shoulder is hurting her again, by the way. But even with an injured shoulder and the withdrawal of her rising star partner, Jerzy Janowicz, the world number 5 and her able stand-in partner, Grzegorz Panfil, have made it to the Hopman Cup final. Not bad, considering this is Poland's debut performance at the event. Poland just beat Australia 2-1 (and yes, Sam Stosur lost all three of her singles matches in Perth).

France beat the USA 2-1 in New Year's Day play, and then Canada beat Italy, whose cause crumbled when Pennetta retired.

In Brisbane, the quarterfinalists are Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic (who beat Angelique Kerber), and Victoria Azarenka, who was dragged to three sets by Stefanie Voegele.

Grzegorz

GrzegorzPanfil, have reached the final of the Hopman Cup. Not bad, since this is Poland's debut appearance at the event.