The Australian Open has misplaced one other celebrity drawcard, with world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz pressured out of the Melbourne main with a leg damage.
The 19-year-old Spaniard, who gained his maiden grand slam title on the US Open in September, revealed he suffered a muscle damage in his proper leg throughout pre-season coaching.
“I had worked a lot to reach my best level in Australia. Unfortunately I won’t be able to play either the Care A2+ Kooyong (warm-up event) or the Australian Open,” Alcaraz posted on social media on Friday.
“It is a hard moment, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look ahead. See you in 2024 Australian Open.”
He added: “When I was at my best in preseason, I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training. This time it’s the semimembranosus muscle in my right leg.”
Alcaraz rocketed to the highest of the rankings final yr, turning into the youngest man ever to succeed in No.1 after beating Casper Ruud within the US Open closing.
However he suffered a blow late within the 2022 marketing campaign when he tore an stomach muscle, forcing him to overlook the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals.
Alcaraz’s withdrawal means his countryman, reigning champion Rafael Nadal, can be promoted to high seed for his title defence when the season’s first grand slam will get below manner at Melbourne Park on January 16.
The teenager’s absence additionally follows the retirements final yr of girls’s title Ash Barty, seven-times champion Serena Williams and six-times males’s champion Roger Federer.
Dual Open winner and fellow former world No.1 Naomi Osaka can be in excessive doubt, having not performed since September and never that includes in any of the summer time lead-up occasions in Australia.
The Open draw takes place at Melbourne Park on Thursday.
