Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, ‘suffering from forearm inflammation’ out of Australian Open

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has pulled out of the Australian Open with a persistent arm injury.

The 29-year-old Frenchman, who also withdrew from this week’s Hopman Cup with the same complaint, confirmed on Twitter that the start of his season will be delayed.

Tsonga had also been scheduled to play in Abu Dhabi's pre-season Mubadala World Tennis Championship, but pulled out of that tournament as well.

He described the latest blow as a “big disappointment” and posted a picture of his right arm, complete with a brace stretching from the base of his hand to the middle of his forearm.

The two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist struggled with the injury during France’s Davis Cup final defeat to Switzerland in November and is hoping the extra rest will help him make a complete recovery.

“I’m still suffering from a forearm inflammation (intersection syndrome) and that prevents me being at 100 per cent of my capacities in a competition,” Tsonga said on his official website.

“Then I’m going to receive over three weeks all the needed treatments to be able to be back on track in the best conditions.”

Tsonga was only able to contest one rubber during the Davis Cup final but still chose to play in the inaugural International Premier Tennis League.

That decision will now come under renewed scrutiny while US Open champion Marin Cilic, another player who went into the IPTL carrying an injury, is also a major doubt for the season’s first grand slam.

Tsonga played 20 single-set IPTL matches with the Manila Mavericks across roughly two weeks of the competition, from November 28-December 12.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, ‘suffering from forearm inflammation’ out of Australian Open

Tsonga, who also missed the Mubadala World Tennis Championship with the injury, will be scrutinised for his decision to play in the IPTL now that he misses the season's first grand slam.