Australian ladies’s No.1 Ajla Tomljanovic has been pressured out of the Australian Open with a lingering knee damage.
Tomljanovic beforehand pulled out of the United Cup because of the damage and confirmed on Saturday she had been unable to recuperate in time to contest her house grand slam which begins on Monday.
The 29-year-old’s withdrawal is a hammer blow to Australia’s hopes of a neighborhood lady going deep into the match.
A yr after now-retired Ash Barty claimed a breakthrough Australian Open title triumph, Australia has solely 5 ladies, none inside the highest 100, left within the draw.
Tomljanovic posted the phrases “I’m sorry” on Twitter with an extended assertion confirming her withdrawal hooked up to the submit.
“It absolutely pains me to have to write this message but unfortunately I won’t be able to compete at this year’s Australian Open,” she stated within the assertion.
“I’ve done absolutely everything in my power to get healthy but just ran out of time to heal and be 100 per cent ready to compete at a high level.
“It’s been a very tough decision to make but I have to listen to my body.
“It’s no secret that this is my favorite place to play so it hurts to miss out on a great opportunity to play in front of my home crowd and to be surrounded by the incredible love and atmosphere.”
In 2022 Tomljanovic grew to become the primary Australian lady since former world No.1 Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1979 to achieve the quarter-finals at each Wimbledon and the US Open, the place she famously ended Serena Williams’ profession, in a calendar yr.
She was in line for a valuable first-time grand slam seeding at her house main till the damage ruined her main and resulted in her rating dropping to No.35.
Her unseeded standing had delivered her a tough draw.
The Australian was because of play Argentina’s world No.192 Nadia Podoroska first-up however then confronted both Sofia Kenin or Victoria Azarenka within the second spherical.
With Barty retired, and common campaigner Daria Saville dominated out in September after struggling a severe knee damage, Tomljanovic had been comfortably Australia’s finest hope.
The remaining Australians are Jaimee Fourlis, Olivia Gadecki, Storm Hunter and Talia Gibson and late addition Kimberly Birrell, who earned a spot following the withdrawal of Venus Williams, who had a wildcard.
Gadecki, who’s being mentored on-site by Barty, and West Australian teen Gibson are making their Open debuts.
