Nicolas Almagro

Melbourne: Spain's Nicolas Almagro strongly denied suggestions of a money-grab after he lasted just 23 minutes at the Australian Open before retiring yesterday. Almagro threw in the towel with a calf injury at 4-0 down in the first set against France's Jeremy Chardy, but walked away with a Aus$50,000 ($37,400) cheque as a first-round loser.