Ajla Tomljanovic and Thanasi Kokkinakis in brutal Wimbledon news
The Aussie duo have endured a tough 2023 season.
Aussie tennis stars Ajla Tomjlanovic and Thanasi Kokkinakis are both set to miss out on Wimbledon to continue their tough seasons. Tomjlanovic has endured a nightmare 2023 tennis season having missed the Australian Open and French Open due to an ongoing knee injury.
The World No.59 was in a race to be fit for Wimbledon, a tournament she has reached the quarter-final on two seperate occasions, having not played since the Bille Jean King Cup last year. And unfortunately, Tomjlanovic took to social media to announce the frustrating news she wouldn't be fit in time for SW19.
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"After experiencing many special emotions and memories at Wimbledon over the last few years I had very high hopes of making my return their this year," she wrote. "Unfortunately, my knee is still asking for just a bit more time before I can have fill confidence in it in order to play at my best level.
Tomjlanovic hasn't played since November last year and was ranked as high as World No.22. In other brutal news for Australian tennis fans, Kokkinakis lost in Wimbledon qualifying to leave his hopes dashed.
Kokkinakis recently lost to American Zachary Svadja at the Nottingham Challenger event. And he wasn't able to win his first round qualifier at Wimbledon going down to Leandro Reidi in straight sets.
There was no hiding the disappointment about the first-day exit of Kokkinakis, though, after his heroics at Roland Garros where he defeated former French Open champ Stan Wawrinka in an epic five-setter before pushing Karen Khachanov in a four-set thriller.
It was his deepest run in a slam for eight years and he talked afterwards of his hopes of once again making it into the main draw at Wimbledon, where he played the champion Novak Djokovic on centre court last year.
Until next year @Wimbledon π pic.twitter.com/XVkyfB5Bgm
β Ajla Tomljanovic (@Ajlatom) June 26, 2023
But his titanic efforts in Paris had left him with some physical struggles and the qualifying event's No.2 seed was far from his sharpest as he was broken while trying to serve to stay in each set, eventually going down to defeat in less than an hour and 20 minutes.
Aussie tennis fans shocked at Wimbledon drama
Aussie tennis fans were left shocked at the latest development, which has seen both players endure a tough 2023 season.
Wishing you a speedy recoveryππ
β Alicia V. Perry (@aliciavperry) June 26, 2023
Terrible for kokkinakis after such an amazing year
β Sue Goss (@SuzyQueWarwick) June 26, 2023
kokkinakis lost first round qualifiers I hate this cursed sport https://t.co/u6A850E3Qc
β emily (@minoanss) June 26, 2023
Kokkinakis lost in qualies last night :(
β Ryan (@Ryanroxs01) June 27, 2023
Get well soon! Can't wait for your return! π
β Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) June 26, 2023
Meanwhile, Aussie Alex de Minaur has found form ahead of Wimbledon and will be guaranteed a top-16 seed having reached the final of Queen's after defeating Holger Rune in the semi-final. However, the Aussie fell at the last hurdle against World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz.
Despite the loss, de Minaur was able to produce one of the shots of the year with an incredible drop-shot volley.
with AAP
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