Kei Nishikori of Japan said Thursday he has pulled out of the Australian Open this month as he continues to recover from a hip injury.
Nishikori, 32, is ranked 47th in the world. He turned pro in 2007 and hit a career-high No. 4 ranking shortly after reaching the U.S. Open final in 2014, but he has been slowed by injuries in recent years.
“Since the end of last year I have been struggling with my hip,” Nishikori said on Twitter. “It is not 100% recovered yet and I will have to pull out of the Aussie swing. … I am working hard on my recovery and will do everything I can to be back on the court soon.”
Nishikori lost in the first round of the Australian Open last year.
The tournament, the first Grand Slam event of the year, will begin Jan. 17.
–Field Level Media