Agnieszka Radwanska insists she can still contend for Australian Open honours despite carrying a worrying shoulder injury and making a meal of her title defence at the Sydney International.
American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands, ranked 48th, upset Radwanska 7-5, 6-3 yesterday, marking the first time since 1990 that the women's defending champion has lost her opening match at the century-old tournament.
The world No 5 received treatment on her serving shoulder during last week's Hopman Cup in Perth and, while loath to blame the injury for her defeat, admitted it was still bothering her.
"Maybe a little bit, but I have good painkillers," Radwanska said.
The non-sanctioned Hopman Cup aside, Radwanska hasn't won a set - let alone a match - since October after also losing all three of her round-robin encounters at the season-ending championships in Istanbul.
