Australian Open 2018: Players fitness in question ahead of 1st Grand Slam of the year

Melbourne: The first Grand Slam of the year i.e Australian Open gets underway in Melbourne on Monday. The tournament has already lost some sheen after some top players decided to withdraw from the tournament. Former World No 1 Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori and defending women’s singles champion Serena Williams have already withdrawn from the tournament.

The injuries and illness in the run-up to the tournament have seen many players, not 100 percent fit to take part in the first Grand Slam of the year. The tournament sees the return of Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka who make a return to the tournament after a lengthy injury lay off.

Garbine Muguruza and Dominic Thiem have also fallen prey to injuries and illnesses during warm-up tournaments.

Here is the list of players who have been struggling with fitness in the lead-up to the first Grand Slam of the year.

Novak Djokovic

Six-time Melbourne champion has been sidelined since Wimbledon in July with a right elbow injury, although the Serb intends to play exhibitions this week and insists he "is ready".

Rafael Nadal

A knee injury forced the Spanish world number one out of the warm-up Brisbane International, but he has arrived in Melbourne and expected to be a leading contender.

Stan Wawrinka

The 2014 champion is returning after two operations on a knee cartilage injury. Pulled out of Abu Dhabi exhibition appearance late last month.

Milos Raonic

Calf and wrist problems kept the tall Canadian out of action since last October. Played the Brisbane International, but was bundled out by a wildcard.

Nick Kyrgios

The leg was strapped at the Brisbane event which he said related to fluid on the back of his left knee. It didn't seem to trouble Australia's big hope, who won the tournament.

Jack Sock

The American retired from a match at the Hopman Cup with an injured hip, but returned two days later when he lost to Roger Federer.

Dominic Thiem

The Austrian world number five pulled out of the warm-up Qatar Open just hours before his semi-final with flu and a fever.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

The 2008 Australian Open runner-up withdrew from the Qatar Open before it started with a wrist injury.

Garbine Muguruza

World number three retired from Brisbane after collapsing with severe leg cramps. She is playing the Sydney International this week.

Sloane Stephens

The US Open champion withdrew from Brisbane to rest a troublesome knee and was knocked out of Sydney in the first round. Had a remarkable 2017 after almost a year out with a left foot injury.

Johanna Konta

A semi-finalist in Melbourne two years ago, the Briton's Brisbane campaign ended early when she retired with a right hip injury.

Caroline Garcia

The rising French star retired in tears from Brisbane with a back injury in the opening round, saying she could barely move.

Petra Kvitova

The two-time Wimbledon champion pulled out of Brisbane with a viral illness. She missed last year's Australian Open after being attacked with a knife near her Czech home.  

Julia Goerges

The German, ranked 12, withdrew from the Sydney International just hours after beating Caroline Wozniacki to win the Auckland Classic on Sunday, citing a right knee injury.