premise: The loss, having severely diminished the tournament's status as the showcase for the finest talent in the men's game, had seen third-ranked Andy Roddick pulling out before the tournament with a back problem and Australian Open winner Marat Safin with a knee injury.
  Lleyton Hewitt, ranked fourth, remained in Sydney with his wife, actress Rebecca Cartwright, who is expecting the couple's first child within two weeks.
  Top-ranked Roger Federer was left the only top-five player in the elite field, but the two-time defending champion might not go the distance with a sore right ankle.
  "We certainly feel regret, and the regret actually comes from not only the fans, but the organizing committee and also the ATP," said another deputy director of the tournament Qin Weichang Tuesday evening.
  As an immediate action from the organizers for apologizing to fans, Nadal went on court Monday night between matches and to the media center to say sorry for his withdrawal. Also the 19-year-old Spaniard spared 40 minutes Tuesday afternoon to meet with his fans, which drew about 500 to attend.
   What will fail to happen if Roger Federer does go the distance in the tournament?
hypothesis: left the only top-five player in the elite field