Another tennis star has pulled out from competing in the Australian Open singles event just days before it gets underway.
In just three days, the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events that take place every year will get underway as the Australian Open begins at Melbourne Park.
Ahead of the competition starting, Melbourne Park hosted a 48-player tournament including professionals, amateurs and influencers in which each match contained just one point, with the tournament winner taking home $1million AUD (£497,617).
However, in the days leading up to the tennis major several big players have confirmed they will not be competing, with Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen absent through injury and former men's number three Milos Raonic confirming his retirement.
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And now, a top local player has revealed that he will also be sidelined from the Australian Open singles event in a heartbreaking statement released on social media.
Going into the Australian Open, many local fans were eager to see the return of Adelaide native Thanasi Kokkinakis after his pectoral surgery in February 2025.
The 29-year-old was forced to withdraw his local competition in the Adelaide International earlier this week after injuring his shoulder during his first-round win over Sebastian Korda.
And now, Kokkinakis has confirmed that he will also have to sit out of the single event at the Australian Open as he continues to struggle with injuries that have held him back in recent years.
Post on social media, he wrote: "Unfortunately after speaking with my team and doctors I have made the decision to pull out of the Australian Open singles.
"After an incredibly tough year this was the event I was looking forward to the most but I’m not ready yet. We will still give doubles a go."
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In another post, he added: "Very sad to have to pull out of my favourite event. Unfortunately my arm isn't quite ready yet after missing a year off.
"The support is always incredible and I love playing here. See you next year."
Thankfully, it appears that Kokkinakis will still be available to compete in the men's doubles event, where he could reunite with longtime partner and fellow Australian Nick Kyrgios.
The pair won the Australian Open doubles title together in 2022 but with both men enduring injury struggles they have rarely played together since.
Topics: Tennis, Australian Open, Injury
Ben McCrum