Tsonga, Gasquet withdraw from Sydney event

SYDNEY (AFP) –

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France hits a return against Kevin Anderson of South Africa during their eleventh session men’s singles match on day seven of the Hopman Cup tennis tournament in Perth on January 4, 2013. Tsonga has withdrawn from next week’s Sydney International with a hamstring injury, tournament organisers said on Saturday.

French tennis star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has withdrawn from next week’s Sydney International with a hamstring injury, tournament organisers said on Saturday.

The world number eight pulled out of the last major lead-up event to this month’s Australian Open after suffering the injury playing for France in the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth on Friday.

“Unfortunately Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sustained an injury in Perth and has been forced to pull out of the Apia International Sydney with a left hamstring injury,” tournament director Craig Watson said.

“We wish him a speedy recovery and all the best for a successful Australian Open.”

Tsonga became the second top seed to drop out of the Sydney event after French compatriot Richard Gasquet, the world number 10, pulled out for personal reasons, organisers said.