Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the Australian Open runner-up seven years ago and always one of the most popular players from overseas at Melbourne Park, has today officially withdrawn from the upcoming 2015 event because of an inflamed forearm.
The world no.12 doesn’t expect to play again until mid-February after also being forced to miss this week’s Hopman Cup in Perth where he was due to team up with Alize Cornet.
Tsonga played one rubber for France in last month’s Davis Cup final at Switzerland and then fulfilled a full schedule representing the Manila Mavericks in the inaugural International Premier Tennis League. Clearly his exertions in the new venture have come with a price.
Using his own official website www.jowiltsonga.fr, Tsonga released his unfortunate news when he said: “It’s with a big disappointment that I have to postpone today the start of my season, declining the Australian Open.
“I’m still suffering from a forearm inflammation (intersection syndrome) and that prevents me being at 100% of my capacities in a competition.”
Tsonga has been a consistent performer in the heat of the Australian Open. As well as losing the 2008 final to Novak Djokovic, he was a semi-finalist in 2010 and denied a return to the final by Roger Federer. He also made the quarter-finals twice, losing to Fernando Verdasco and Federer again. Last year he was once more beaten by Roger Federer in the fourth round.
“I’m going to receive over three weeks all the needed treatments to be able to be back on track in the best conditions,” reported Tsonga
“Thanks to all of you for your numerous messages and for the support you are giving me.”
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley already knows Spain’s Nicolas Almagro and German veteran Tommy Haas will miss his event and he is bracing himself for the impending withdrawal of US Open champion Marin Cilic who has been suffering with a shoulder injury for several months.
Cilic’s latest utterance saw him tell reporters in his native Croatia: “Considering the full recovery and opportunity for practice, it is highly questionable if I will be able to play.”
STORY VIA BOB LARSON TENNIS NEWS.
Topics: Atp, Australian Open, Hopman Cup, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Tennis News, Tsonga
-@tsonga7 SADLY SUBMITS TO SWOLLEN ARM; WITHDRAWS FROM @AustralianOpen- http://t.co/PAfrloam8H #Tsonga #AustralianOpen2015 #tennis #atp