Australian Open 2022: Chris O’Connell avoids serious injury after career-best grand slam performance

Sydney’s Chris O’Connell won’t be out for long after suffering an injury in his Australian Open third-round defeat to Maxime Cressy

Chris O’Connell has dodged a serious setback after hurting himself in his Australian Open third-round defeat to American serve-volleyer Maxime Cressy last week.

The Sydneysider revealed after his four-set loss that he injured his right hip flexor or high on his quadriceps, and he subsequently withdrew from his third-round doubles match with Jason Kubler.

“I’m pretty sore. I’m seeing the sports doctor,” he said.

“I actually did it the first point of the match. I think I was pretty nervous and I sort of stumbled wide to a forehand and I felt something.

Chris O’Connell will be back on the ATP Tour in mid-February after recovering from a minor injury sustained at the Australian Open. Picture: AFP

“With treatment, it seemed to be all right. I don’t know how I’m going to pull-up, but regardless, he was too good for me today, so it didn’t really hurt me too much.”

O’Connell was going to head straight to India to play an ATP 250 event and two Challengers but the injury will sideline him for up to two weeks.

His career-best Australian Open effort, where he defeated Frenchman Hugo Gaston then Argentina’s world No.13 Diego Schwartzman, will propel him about 30 places and inside the top 150 again.

O’Connell has dealt with constant injuries since he was a teenager but is intent on breaking into the top 100.

The 27-year-old plans to play in ATP tournaments in Doha and Dubai from mid-February.