Casey Dellacqua out of Australian Open due to concussion
Friday 4 December 2015 11:44, UK
Doubles specialist Casey Dellacqua has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to the lingering effects of concussion.
The 30-year-old Aussie will miss her home Grand Slam in January after being diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, which may even put her playing future in doubt.
Dellacqua suffered the head injury when she fell heavily during a tournament in Beijing in early October.
She is still not in a position where she is able to train to the level required.
She spent a period of time in hospital following the accident and her manager Sam Maxwell said: "She is still not in a position where she is able to train to the level required to be able to play professional tennis."
She will also miss the Hopman Cup mixed-team event in Perth over the New Year where she was due to partner Lleyton Hewitt.
Dellacqua, the world No 5 at doubles, has also pulled out of the Sydney International.
During 2015, she and partner Yaroslava Shvedova were beaten in the finals of the French Open and US Open.
