SYDNEY, Jan 10 World number three Nikolay Davydenko says he is danger of missing the Aust

SYDNEY, Jan 10 (Reuters) World number three Nikolay Davydenko says he is danger of missing the Australian Open after suffering a possible stress fracture in his right foot.

The Russian told a news conference doctors had ordered him to undergo an MRI scan to determine the extent of the damage and whether he can play at the first grand slam of the year.

''The doctor said it might be a stress fracture,'' Davydenko told a news conference. ''But it is not like 100 per cent, that's why I need to check.'' Davydenko first experienced some discomfort in his foot while playing in Doha last week but the pain became overbearing during his second round match against Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu at the Sydney International today.

Davydenko, who was seeded two for the tournament, lost the first set 6-4 when he decided to quit a a precaution ahead of the Australian Open.

''If I've got a stress fracture I need to rest like six weeks...

but I'm from Russia, I never take six weeks,'' he said.

Davydenko became the third Russian to pull out of the last major event before the Australian Open in 24 hours, joining Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova on the sidelines.

Kuznetsova withdrew midway through her match against Katarina Srebotnik on Tuesday after complaining of breathing problems while Petrova retired in the second set of her clash with Ana Ivanovic with a stomach complaint.

Another Russian, Dmitry Tursonov, pulled out before his first match when he hurt his wrist in the warm-up. He was replaced by lucky loser Evgeny Korolev who is the only Russian survivor from the nine who began the event.

Dual French Open champion Rafael Nadal also quit the event early, complaining of a leg injury, while Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan retired with a wrist a problem.

World number one Justin Henin-Hardenne announced her withdrawal for personal reasons while Australia's Lleyton Hewitt pulled out with a calf muscle complaint, just hours after being dumped by his coach Roger Rasheed.

Despite offering prize money in excess of $1 million, the Sydney International always has a high casualty rate, though most retirees invariably recover in time to play at Melbourne.

Asked why so many players dropped out, Davydenko provided a blunt answer: ''Because it's a small tournament. I don't think nobody care about here.'' REUTERS AY SSC1422