By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, December 30, 2019
Kei Nishikori has pulled out of next month's Australian Open because of a lingering elbow injury. Nishikori follows five-time finalist Andy Murray pulling out of the Melbourne major.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
Injuries are impacting the Australian Open draw.
Kei Nishikori has pulled out of next month's Australian Open because of a lingering right elbow injury.
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The 13th-ranked Japanese underwent elbow surgery on October 22nd in an effort to remedy an injury that forced him to withdraw from Washington, DC, Tokyo, Shanghai and Paris. Nishikori has not played since suffering a third-round US Open loss to Alex de Minaur in September.
"Today, together with my team, we have made this decision as I am still not 100 percent ready (or) healthy to compete at the highest level," Nishikori said in a statement. "This decision was not taken lightly as Australia is one of my favorite places to compete.
"Together with my team I will keep working hard to be back on court as soon as possible. Thanks for all the support."
Nishikori's departure comes on his 30th birthday.
Nishikori opened 2019 on an eight-match winning streak, including defeating Daniil Medvedev to capture his 12th career title in Brisbane, snapping a nine-match losing streak in ATP finals. Nishikori advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals bowing to Novak Djokovic.
Four-time Australian Open quarterfianlist Nishikori follows five-time finalist Andy Murray pulling out of the Melbourne major.
Former world No. 1 Murray is out with a pelvic injury.
"Unfortunately, I've had a setback and as a precaution need to work through that before competing," Murray told the BBC. "I've worked so hard to get myself into a situation where I can play at the top level and I'm gutted I'm not going to be able to play."
The Australian Open begins on January 20th.