Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur faces a race against time to be fit for the Australian Open after being forced to withdraw from the Adelaide International on Monday.
The world No.18 has withdrawn from the event after aggravating an abdominal injury. His announcement comes two days after his last appearance on the court at the ATP Cup, where Australia lost in the semi-finals to Spain. At the event he won two out of his four singles matches. Losing to both Rafael Nadal and Dan Evans. He also won a doubles match alongside Nick Kyrgios against Great Britain.
Vowing to take a ‘day-by-day’ approach to his recovery, it is unclear as to if de Minaur will be fully fit in time for next week’s Australian Open. Where he has been given a top 20 seeding at the event for the first time. He has never missed the grand slam event since making his debut back in 2017.
“At the moment we’re going to take it day by day,” The Australian Associated Press quoted de Minaur as saying.
“It’s something that is not ideal. And at this stage we are just looking at short-term goals and trying to get better each day (with) a lot of treatment.
“I have seen the physios, I have seen the doctors, and I will be continuing to do that for the whole of the week and hopefully I will be ready to play in Melbourne.”
The 20-year-old was set to be the top seed at the Adelaide International. Meaning there will now be no top 20 player in the men’s tournament this year. Novak Djokovic had also recently pulled out. De Minaur was bidding to claim his second ATP title on home soil after Sydney last year.
“Obviously I am not in the happiest mood,” de Minaur said.
“But it’s something that happens … I have just got to do whatever I can to make sure my body recovers.
“And right now my sole focus in on making sure I recover for my next one (tournament).”
Canadian rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime is now the top seed in Adelaide this week. Replacing the Australian in the draw is Spanish lucky loser Jaume Munar.
