January 3, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
John Isner withdrew from the Hopman Cup on with a right knee injury, ending the American team’s chances of reaching the final of the eight-country tournament and giving the championship berth to Spain. Isner played with tape on his knee when he lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France on Tuesday. Later, he said was suffering from "a little tendonitis."
Isner is currently the highest-ranked American at 14th in the ATP Men’s Singles Rankings. He still plans to play in next week’s Sydney International, a tuneup to the Australian Open which is set to begin Jan. 14.
"My plan now is just to treat it as best I can and see how it reacts,” Isner said. "I do know I’ve always been a fast healer when I’ve had little injuries pop up here and there, so I’m confident I’m going to be fine for the Australian Open. It’s not a great way to start the year but I’d rather it happen this week than in two weeks.”
