Jo Wilfried-Tsonga has pulled out of the Kooyong Classic, citing exhaustion and the need to rest ahead of the Australian Open.
Querrey and Troicki agree to play one-off match to fill schedule
Jo Wilfried-Tsonga has pulled out of the invitational Kooyong Classic, citing exhaustion and the need to rest ahead of the Australian Open.
The Frenchman had suffered two rain-interrupted defeats at the exhibition tournament in Melbourne, going down in straight sets to Austria's Jurgen Melzer before being beaten by Japan's Kei Nishikori 1-6 6-4 6-1.
The world No.6 has now elected not to play in his third and final match, having arrived in Australia after a long-haul flight from the Middle East where he won the Qatar Open.
"He's a bit jet-lagged and he just felt like 'if I'm going to give myself half a chance I've got to have a day off.' It's not an injury per se," tournament director Colin Stubs said.
Raonic out
Tsonga is the second player to withdraw from the eight-man field - Canadian Milos Raonic pulled out on Wednesday after his first-round defeat to Mardy Fish due to a stomach bug.
Fish will play Melzer for a place in Saturday's final against Australian teenager Bernard Tomic who ground down 15th-ranked Frenchman Gael Monfils in three sets.
Meanwhile, American Sam Querrey and Serbia's Viktor Troicki have now agreed to play each other in an exhibition match on Friday to help fill the schedule.
British number one Andy Murray will also make an appearance on the same day, playing a one-off match against Argentinean veteran David Nalbandian.
