Thanasi Kokkinakis’ year has got off to the worst possible start with the injury-wrecked tennis star forced to pull out of the running for the Australian Open.
The 23-year-old only managed nine tournaments last year due to injury but had entered next week’s Canberra International and was hopeful of playing in the Open.
He would have required a wildcard to play or to win through qualifying, as he did last year.
But Kokkinakis tweeted on Friday he was again sidelined with “health concerns”.
“Unfortunately I’ve got some health concerns I need to take care of and will have to miss the @AustralianOpen and Aussie summer. Shattered to miss my favourite part of the year but I have to look after myself first. Always appreciate the continued support,” Kokkinakis tweeted.
The South Australian hasn’t played since reaching the final of a Challenger event in the United States in September but just last week said he’d had a strong pre-season.
Once ranked world No. 69 Kokkinakis is down to 199 due to his ragged run with injuries, which have included shoulder, abdominal and knee problems.
Last year he won his US Open first round match before a pectoral injury forced him out of his second round clash with Rafael Nadal.
He also had to retire during last year’s Australian Open first round after fighting his way through qualifying.
In 2018 he upset then world No.1 Roger Federer, trumping the Swiss maestro in the second round of the 2018 Miami Open.