PHOTO OF THE DAY A back injury forced Mary Pierce out of the tournament, but she still managed to satisfy some autograph-seeking fans. GRAND SLAM SNIPPETS Lleyton Hewitt's silence has caused a debate. The world's No. 1 developed chicken pox last week, and has refused to speak publicly since. "I do think he owes the media -- he needs to be responsible as a professional athlete to speak to them -- and, actually, I don't understand why he is doing it this way," said Billie Jean King, who topped the women's rankings five times between 1966 and 1974. "I think he is hurting himself because he is a great guy and this is a forum for him. He could actually wrap you guys around his little finger. It's easy. He is No. 1 right now." John McEnroe, a seven-time Grand Slam title-winner, disagreed with King. "If this is the attitude that makes him tick, then that's the best for him," he said. "Once you try and be something you're not, you lose sight of the real goal. And Hewitt's goal is to expend all the energy that matters on the court." Serena Williams had to pull out of the tournament with an ankle injury, but not before she had a chance to indulge in one of her favorite off-court activities: fashion. The younger of the big-hitting Williams sisters spent Sunday promoting her new line of tennis dresses in Melbourne. Kafelnikov leaves the clubs at home Yevgeny Kafelnikov is so serious about trying to win this year's Australian Open that he has barred himself from playing golf. The 1999 champion once said he prefers playing golf to tennis because it allows him to get away from the spotlight and unwind. When he made his annual trek to Australia, he always made sure that he packed his clubs, but not this time. "It's a new commitment that I've made for myself and I'm going to follow that up," said Kafelnikov, a straight sets winner over Germany's Michael Kohlmann in the first round. Kafelnikov, who also made the Australian Open final in 2000, said playing golf had helped him escape from the pressure of tennis but his obsession with trying to lower his 14 handicap was starting to distract him. "Golf is one of my hobbies and it's one way that I can get away from the game and refresh my energy," said Kafelnikov, 27. "Time is running away from me (to win tennis tournaments). I'll have plenty of golf when I retire." DOWN UNDER DETAILS Lucky starter: The Australian Open's loss was Irakli Labadze's gain. The left-hander from Georgia, ranked 104 in the world, replaced injured Andre Agassi in the main draw after the defending champion pulled out of the tournament with an injured right wrist. While Agassi has seven Grand Slam singles titles, the 20-year-old Labadze's record in the tour's official player guide is bare, though he did make the 1998 junior Wimbledon final, losing to Roger Federer. Last September, Labadze beat Agassi in Shanghai after saving a set-point in each of the match's two sets. Coming back: Mark Philippoussis made a triumphant Grand Slam return on Monday. The big-serving Philippoussis hadn't played in a major since the 2000 U.S. Open, but served up 29 aces in defeating Spaniard Galo Blanco 6-3 6-4 7-5 in the first round. Philippoussis made the U.S. Open final in 1998 and reached a career-high ranking of eighth in the world but has never really fulfilled his potential, partially because of three operations to his knee. "A couple of doctors said I would not play at the professional level again but I'm always been positive in my life, it was just something else to prove," said Philippoussis, 25. "Coming back from that injury last year I found that new love for the game again that I felt I lost in the past and I am enjoying the atmosphere out there and enjoying playing." "My tennis career isn't over yet, I feel likes it's just starting." OVERHEARD ANDRE AGASSI After withdrawing with a wrist injury: "Hopefully this is something that, by treating it immediately, I can solve. ... (But) there's a long-term concern here." GUSTAVO KUERTEN After five-set loss to Julien Boutter "After the third set, I couldn't move. I feel like I couldn't play my game. There's a lot of pain and it's no pleasure for me to play like that." VENUS WILLIAMS On whether she gets homesick on the tour: "I suppose I just miss my dog and I miss my dad. But this is my job and if I don't do it well, someone else will."