The former world number one Andy Murray, and the Japanese Kei Nishikori, both injured, confirmed their withdrawal from the Australian Open (January 15-28), adding their names to an overflowing infirmary before the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
"Unfortunately, I will not be able to play in Melbourne this year because I am still not ready to compete," said the 30-year-old Briton in a statement.
Murray, who already decided to withdraw from the Brisbane tournament on Tuesday, has not played since his elimination in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon last year.
"I hope to be able to play again very soon," added the player, now ranked 16th in the world, explaining that he will "consider all options" to heal his hip.
The star of Japanese tennis, Kei Nishikori, also announced his withdrawal from the Australian Open on Thursday, as he has not yet recovered from a wrist injury that he has been suffering from for months.
"I am very sorry to announce that I will miss the Australian Open this year," said the number one Asian tennis player on the tournament's website, which starts in Melbourne on January 15.
"The Australian Open is my favorite Grand Slam... it is my 'home' (...) It is the tournament that takes incredible care of the players and their teams, so it hurts to have to miss it this year," added the Japanese player.
Winner of eleven ATP tournaments, Nishikori was eliminated last year in Australia in the round of 16 after losing in five sets to Swiss Roger Federer, the eventual winner of the event.
"My recovery is going well, but I just don't feel 100% ready to play matches again best-of-five sets," said the 27-year-old player, who currently occupies 22nd place in the ATP rankings and reached 4th place in March 2015.
Djokovic and Nadal must prove themselves
The world number 8, American Jack Sock, injured his hip on Tuesday while playing in the Hopman Cup, although he could recover for the Australian event.
Spanish Rafa Nadal, world number 1, and Serbian Novak Djokovic, also do not arrive at the first Grand Slam of the year at 100%.
'Djoko', six-time winner in Melbourne and with 12 Grand Slam tournaments on his record, and Nadal, the last winner of Roland-Garros and the US Open, have not played a match this season.
"Novak will travel to Australia, where he will participate in two exhibition tournaments," after which "a decision will be made about his participation in the first Grand Slam of the season," said a statement on Djokovic's website published on Thursday.
The Serb was going to make a comeback in Abu Dhabi and Doha but canceled his presence at the last minute.
Nadal, the current number one in the rankings, ended the season with a retirement from the Masters in London due to knee problems that have prevented him from playing again until now, and which have also forced him to withdraw from Brisbane.
The Swiss Stan Wawrinka, winner in Australia in 2014, also withdrew from the Abu Dhabi exhibition last week, after undergoing two knee operations last year, although he is expected to try to repeat victory in 2018.
Doubts about Serena
The women's draw also presents doubts about several of its most emblematic players.
The main question hangs over the reigning champion Serena Williams, 22nd in the WTA rankings, after four months without competing due to her maternity.
Semifinalist in Melbourne in 2016, British Johanna Konta (9th) retired injured from the Brisbane tournament on Thursday.
Before her, it was the Spanish Garbiñe Muguruza, number 2 in the world and last winner of Wimbledon, who was forced to retire in Brisbane due to severe cramps in one leg. (I)