The annual Erste Bank Open attracts a number of top players around the world. This year’s tournament is already underway in Vienna, Austria with some of the big names in tennis set to battle it out for this title. The competition took place in Vienna for the first time in 1974, and over the years it has attracted players like Zverev, Thiem, Muster and Agassi among many more.
Unfortunately, some household names in the world of tennis will not be part of this tournament. At first, it was only Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Kei Nishikori, Nick Kyrgios, Lucas Pouille and Daniil Medvedev who had already ruled out going to Vienna for various satisfactory reasons. However, the list has grown further with Auger Aliassime being the latest tennis player to withdraw from the tournament.
Auger Aliassime still on to play the Nextgen Finals in Milan
Auger Aliassime in yet another player who is set to miss the Erste Bank Open due to a left ankle injury. Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “Sadly I won’t be able to play my first-round match at the @ErsteBankOpen today. I, unfortunately, hurt my left ankle at practice yesterday. Will keep you updated on how my recovery is going. Thanks, everyone for your continuous support, Danke Wien. See you next time.’’
Sadly I won’t be able to play my first round match at the @ErsteBankOpen today. I unfortunately hurt my left ankle at practice yesterday. Will keep you updated on how my recovery is going. Thanks everyone for your continuous support 🙏🏽 Danke Wien🇦🇹 See you next time ✌🏽
— Félix AugerAliassime (@felixtennis) October 23, 2019
Immediately fans started wishing him well in his recovery. The injury comes as a blow to fans who would have wanted to see him take part in this tournament. A section of fans hoped that the damage was not severe and they expect to see him get back to the court as soon as possible.
Nishikori and his elbow problem
Kei Nishikori was among the first lot of tennis players to withdraw from Erste Bank Open in Vienna even before it started. The Japanese tennis player has been struggling with an elbow issue since May when he featured in the French Open. Surprisingly, he made into the Roland Garros quarterfinals where he lost to Rafael Nadal and also the July’s Wimbledon where Roger Federer eliminated him in the eighth round.
Kei: first day after procedure(📷https://t.co/RXFiKrVgVU) 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Ng2et77r2D
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) October 23, 2019
After being knocked out in the 3rd round of the US Open back in September, Kei has not featured in any tennis competition. He was set to take part in the Erste Bank Open before being ruled out with an elbow injury. Already he has undergone elbow surgery and is currently recovering.
After the elbow surgery, he took to Twitter and wrote, “first day after procedure.’’ Kei Nishikori was confirming to his fans that he had successfully undergone elbow surgery and was recovering pretty well. Nevertheless, he will not be participating in the Erste Bank Open.
Kei Nishikori’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.8, Kei played his last match on the 30th of August when he had to bow to Alex De Minaur 6-2 6-4 2-6 6-3 in the 3rd round in U.S. Open.
This year Kei has a 29-14 win-loss record. Nishikori has won 1 title in Brisbane.
Felix Auger Aliassime’s ranking and performance in 2019
Ranked no.18, Felix played his last match on the 9th of October when he lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-63 7-63 in the 2nd round in Shanghai.
Felix Auger Aliassime’s best performance of the year was getting to the final in Stuttgart, Lyon and Rio de Janeiro.
Kei Nishikori and Felix Auger Aliassime played each other 1 time. The head to head is 1-0 for Nishikori.
The last time that they played, Kei Nishikori won 6-1 6-3 in the 3rd round in Barcelona in 25th April 2019.
Kei Nishikori and Felix Auger Aliassime |
| Embed from Getty Images |
