Australian Open loses Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

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

Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is out of the Australian Open

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.

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.

“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.

The comeback trail for Bernard Tomic, meanwhile, will next head to Doha where he will be one of 11 Australians trying to qualify for the Australian Open offshore for the first time.

Tomic, the one-time world number 17 who is now ranked 226 in the world, has been working his way back to full fitness via a series of low-key events in Brisbane.

He has been battling a back injury which forced him out of the final of the UTR Pro Tennis Series tournament in Brisbane 10 days ago while he was warming up.

Tomic, 28, has only played nine ATP tour matches in 2020 and didn’t received an Australian Open wildcard.

Instead he will travel to Qatar to try to secure one of 16 qualifying spots in the main draw for the rescheduled Open, which will be held from February 8-21.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t play today but hopefully I’ll improve,” Tomic said after withdrawing from the Brisbane event.

“I’ve been trying for a year to come back, so I’ll try my best.”

Qualifying for the first grand slam of the year has been moved away from Melbourne because of COVID-19-related issues and will take place from January 10-13.

Players will need to win three sudden-death matches, with the 16 qualifiers plus a further six alternates travelling to Australia where they will have to undertake 14 days of mandatory quarantine with other main draw players.

Tomic, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2011, didn’t make the main draw at the Australian Open earlier this year after bombing out in qualifying.

West Australian veteran Matt Ebden, Victorian Andrew Harris and Queenslanders Jason Kubler and Akira Santillan are among the other 11 Aussies heading to Dubai with Tomic.

• Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, ranked second and fifth in the world respectively, have been re-elected to the ATP players’ council, whose term runs until June 2022.

The council, as voted by ATP player members, also saw the re-election of Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, Australian John Millman, South African Kevin Anderson, Briton Andy Murray and Brazilian Bruno Soares.

In addition, France’s Gilles Simon returns to the council having served previous terms, while newcomers Pablo Andujar of Spain and New Zealander Marcus Daniell will serve their first term.

Herald Sun, NCA Newswire, AFP