British No.1 Kyle Edmund has vowed to do “everything he can” to be fit for the Australian Open after picking up a knee injury this week.
The world number 14 has been forced to withdraw from this week’s Sydney International as he tries to recover ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year. The 23-year-old will now miss the final warm-up event before the tournament in Melbourne.
He suffered a shock defeat at the Brisbane International on Wednesday, with Japan’s world number 185 Yasutaka Uchiyama recording a 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 victory. Confirming his injury, Edmund told reporters: “I am disappointed that I won’t be able to return to Sydney.
“I need to focus on my preparations for the Australian Open and do everything I can to be fit for the first Grand Slam of the year.”
He reached the semi-finals of the tournament in 2018 before eventually losing to Maric Cilic.
Edmund was always considered an outsider for the event at odds of 67.00 with Dafabet, but he will still fancy his chances of reaching the later rounds if he can prove his fitness.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic remains the favourite at odds of 2.10 after his superb end to the 2018 campaign.
Fans’ favourite Roger Federer is also well fancied at odds of 7.50 and he has been in Australia for the last few weeks as part of his preparation.
Rafael Nadal is 8.00, while former British No.1 Andy Murray is considered an outsider at odds of 34.00.
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