Concerns mount over injury plaugued Aussie star, as he another home favourite pull OUT of Brisbane International on the eve of the Australian Open

Thanasi Kokkinakis and Ajla Tomljanovic have both withdrawn from the Brisbane International as they target being fit for the Australian Open next month.

World No.77 Kokkinakis confirmed his absence from the Brisbane tournament, which starts on Sunday, on social media.

‘Sad to miss the Brisbane International this year,’ Kokkinakis wrote.

‘Dealing with a small hip issue that needs some more time, but hopefully back for the rest of the summer.’

If Kokkinakis recovers, his first tournament of his Australian summer campaign would be the Adelaide International which begins on January 6.

The 28-year-old South Australian won his home tournament in 2022, his first ATP title win.

Ajla Tomljanovic is also set to withdraw from the tournament due to a knee injury, having already missed this year’s event at Melbourne Park and Wimbledon due to knee issues 

The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on January 12. Tomljanovic is hopeful of recovering from a left knee injury in time for the first grand slam of the year but the world No.109 will miss both the Brisbane International and Hobart International in the lead-up.

‘I’m so disappointed to withdraw from the Brisbane International but I wanted to be 100 per cent ready to compete, which I am not,’ Tomljanovic said on Instagram.

‘I’ll continue my prep and see you all at the Australian Open.’

Tomljanovic missed this year’s Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon due to her knee injury.

The 31-year-old’s last appearance on the WTA Tour was at the Merida Open in Mexico in October.

Kokkinakis’s last event played was at the UTS Grand Final in London in early December.