December 29, 2015 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
France’s Richard Gasquet has withdrawn from the Australian Open with a back injury, tournament organizers announced via Twitter on Tuesday.
“Sorry to report that [Gasquet] has withdrawn from the [Australian Open] with a back injury,” the official account of the Australian Open tweeted. “We wish him a speedy recovery.”
Gasquet is currently ranked ninth in the world and reached the Wimbledon semifinals earlier this year. He aggravated the injury playing at the International Premier Tennis League earlier this month where was forced to withdraw.
His withdrawal marks the third person to do so from the first Grand Slam of 2016, joining Juan Monaco and Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Great Britain’s Kyle Edmund will take Gasquet’s place in the main draw.
