Having already withdrawn from the season-opening Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Richard Gasquet pulled out of the Australian Open on Tuesday because of a back injury. Gasquet reportedly got injured while participating in this month’s International Premier Tennis League.
He finished ninth in the world this past season and was the first alternate at the year-end championship. His bid to make it back to the World Tour Finals–especially as one of the eight qualifiers–will now begin with the Frenchman at an obvious deficit.
The Australian Open posted the following on Twitter, which Gasquet retweeted:
Sorry to report that @richardgasquet1 has withdrawn from the #AusOpen with a back injury. We wish him a speedy recovery.
— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) December 29, 2015
Gasquet has never fared particularly well Down Under, with no trips past the fourth round. The world No. 9 has reached the Wimbledon semifinals twice–including in 2015–and the U.S. Open semis on one occasion. Of the four Grand Slams, the French Open is Gasquet’s worst in terms of winning percentage (18-12 overall record at that event compared to 20-12 in Melbourne).
Gasquet joins Juan Monaco and Thanasi Kokkinakis on the Australian Open withdrawal list. Kokkinakis pulled out last week due to a shoulder injury.
British up-and-comer Kyle Edmund has gained direct entry into the season’s first Grand Slam as a result of Gasquet’s absence.
Dang it kokkinakis withdrew? I thought he could make a good run this year if he got a good draw at least.