Tsonga joins Federer on Oz Open sidelines

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.”

Peter Rowe

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