Alex de Minaur out of the Australian Open with abdominal injury

Top-ranked local men’s hope Alex de Minaur pulls out of Australian Open with an injury that’s worse than feared.

Alex de Minaur has been forced out of the Australian Open. Picture: Getty Images

Alex de Minaur has had to abandon his Australian Open hopes after an abdominal injury sustained during the ATP Cup proved worse than he feared.

The 20-year-old performed admirably when representing his nation, which includes pushing world No.1 Rafael Nadal to the brink in an outstanding semi-final of the team competition.

But the right-hander has paid a price for busting his gut for his nation and will miss out on a chance to continue a rapid progression up the ranks in his home grand slam.

de Minaur, who withdrew from the Adelaide International earlier this week, travelled to Melbourne in the belief he would be able to compete in the Australian Open beginning Monday.

But it became clear the injury would not heal sufficiently to allow him to take his place.

It is not the first time he has injured his stomach muscles while representing Australia.

Despite sustaining a stomach muscle tear midway through a Davis Cup rubber in Brisbane in 2018, he was able to push German star Alexander Zverev to a fifth set tie-breaker.

@alexdeminaur lil bro, keep your head up, you are an absolute champion. Rest up and feel better ❤️🙏🏽 All of us are behind you.

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 16, 2020

Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt hailed that effort as one of the most courageous he had seen and de Minaur has continued to play with passion.

He claimed three ATP Tour titles last year and broke into the top 20 for the first time.