Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has joined Roger Federer in withdrawing from the Australian Open after failing to recover from back injury.
The 35-year-old has not played since a first-round loss in Melbourne in January to Alexei Popyrin.
“Despite great progress in recent months, I am still not able to play in competition,” Tsonga, a 2008 finalist in Melbourne, wrote in a social media post.
“In agreement with the medical team, the Australian Open is therefore compromised this year.
“I am looking forward to getting back on a tennis court, but I have to be patient … even if not going to Australia this year is a heartbreaker.”
