A host of players, including British number one, Laura Robson, are struggling to be fit for the start of the Australian Open.
No fewer than 28 players have been forced to pull out of six tennis tournaments since the start of 2014, with Robson having to withdraw from the Hobart International in Tasmania because of the recurrence of a wrist problem.
The 19-year-old, who was also forced to miss last week’s ASB Classic in New Zealand because of the problem, took the first set of her opening match at the Hobart International against Yanina Wickmayer, but soon after was forced to retire.
Robson has yet to complete a competitive match since coming under the wing of new coach, Nick Saviano, in November.
She reached the third round in Melbourne 12 months ago after defying the tennis betting odds to defeat Melanie Oudin and former Wimbledon champion, Petra Kvitova. Sloane Stephens, who went on to reach the semi-finals, then beat her in straight sets.
However, she may be forced to pull out of the first Grand Slam of the year, as could the likes of Caroline Wozniacki, Sloane Stephens, Richard Gasquet and John Isner who are also all currently struggling with injuries.
Meanwhile, Robson, should she recover in time, will be joined by debutant, Tara Moore, in the Great Britain squad for next month’s Fed Cup tie in Hungary, an occasion that many fans who bet on tennis have been looking forward to.
The British number four, currently ranked 212 in the world, has been included in the team alongside Heather Watson and Johanna Konta in Judy Murray’s team for the matches, which start on 4th February in Budapest.
Moore gets her chance following the recent retirements of Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong. Murray said: “I have named a very young and promising team. All are 21 or under and that bodes well for the future.”
