Ailing Schuettler could miss date with Baghdatis

MELBOURNE, Jan 13 (Reuters) Germany's Rainer Schuettler could miss out on his much-anticipated Australian Open first-round showdown with Marcos Baghdatis as he has been laid low with a bout of 'flu.

''Schuettler has been confined to bed with the 'flu and he is in danger of missing the first grand slam of the year,'' a statement on his official website (www.rainer-schuettler.de) said today.

The battle between the two former finalists had been expected to be one of the highlights of the first round but now looks unlikely because of Schuettler's illness.

Schuettler was beaten in three sets by Andre Agassi in the 2003 final while Cypriot Baghdatis won a legion of fans during his run to last year's showpiece match, which he lost to world number one Roger Federer.

REUTERS YA VC1005