Australian Open 2021: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga pulls out of tournament

Another big name has joined Roger Federer in pulling out of February’s Australian Open tournament, opening the door for a young Aussie to compete.

One-time Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is the latest big name to withdraw from the Melbourne Park grand slam.

The 2008 runner-up is the second Frenchman in as many days to pull the pin on the Open, after former top-tenner Lucas Pouille – a semi-finalist last year – opted to play a Challenger event instead.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Novak Djokovic before the 2008 Australian Open final.

Pouille is on the way back from elbow surgery, while Tsonga, like Swiss superstar Roger Federer, hasn’t played since this year’s Australian Open because of an ongoing back problem.

In a statement posted on social media, Tsonga wrote: “Despite great progress in recent months, I am still not able to play in competition.

“In agreement with the medical team, the Australian Open is therefore compromised this year.

“I am looking forward to getting back on a tennis court, but I have to be patient … even if not going to Australia this year is a heartbreaker.

Australian Open ❌ pic.twitter.com/DjNGay4RWw

— Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (@tsonga7) December 29, 2020

“Thanks to Tennis Australia, the ATP and all those who have been fighting for months to keep tennis alive in these challenging times.”

At age 35, Tsonga remains one of the tour’s most popular players and entertainers.

The positive from an Australian perspective is 21-year-old rising star Alexei Popyrin, the world No.113, edges closer to earning direct entry to the main draw, which would open another wildcard spot.

Priscilla Hon. Picture: Lachie Millard

Injury cruels Hon’s hopes

One of the country’s brightest tennis prospects will miss the Australian Open and beyond as her recovery from a serious hip injury lingers.

Queenslander Priscilla Hon has conceded she won’t be ready to compete this summer, after sustaining a torn labrum and strained joint capsule on her left side while sliding to make a return in a match in August.

The 22-year-old, who boasts a career-high WTA ranking of 118, was holding out hope in recent weeks of playing in her home grand slam in February.

She would’ve been a certainty to score one of the Open main draw wildcards had she been fit.

However, Hon sustained a minor setback completing her rehab in the gym and is now eyeing a March playing return, although there’s no certainty about that.

She will continue to head into the Queensland Tennis Centre six times weekly to try to be back as soon as possible.

“This is definitely the worst injury I’ve had – I’ve never been out for this long,” Hon told News Corp.

“I wasn’t sure about the AO for the last couple of weeks. I didn’t want to pull out, because that would make it real, but I keep getting messages asking how I’m going.

“I’ve had a few breakdowns and I still think I will (have more). I missed the US and French and now I’m missing the Aussie Open, which is definitely the biggest disappointment.”

Part of that disappointment was that Hon finally started to feel like she belonged on the elite tour, after scoring grand slam match wins at the 2019 French Open and this year’s Australian Open.

A top-50 berth remains her goal in the coming years, but she is also realistic about how tough it will be in the months after she returns competitively.

Jacqui Bell, Sarah Butler and Priscilla Hon. The trio has designed and manufactured a shoe, Platform Six. (Image/Josh Woning)

In the meantime, with the COVID-19 pandemic piled on top of Hon’s injury, she launched a white clothing brand business, Platform Six.

What started from her sneakers obsession has grown into much more, with a percentage of the profits going towards LGBTIQ youth organisation Minus18 and a human trafficking campaign, A21.

“It means a lot to me. I grew up in a Christian family and we got taught to give 10 per cent of whatever we earned to charity to help others, so since I was 10 I’ve been doing it,” Hon said.

“We’ve put that into the business; that any 10 per cent we earn we put back into the community.

“It’s been a nice distraction while I’ve been injured. It’s been a tough year – it’s been very different for everyone – and I’ve got other things out of it, I guess.”