World number seven Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's bad luck with injuries continue as he has been forced to withdraw from the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome with a slight tear to the abductor. Tsonga was set to face either Ernest Gulbis or Ivo Karlovic in the second round. 

Tsonga discusses the withdrawal 

"I just stretch my abductor this morning. I was sick when I left Madrid for two days, and I came here and I tried to play a little bit to see how it goes, and this morning I just stretch a little bit my abductor, so I will take rest and recover for the next step."

Asked if he is scared about Roland Garros coming up next and if it will tamper him, Tsonga said, "Yeah, of course for me it is not something good to be a little bit injured, you know, before this event. I hope I will have the chance to recover enough quick to prepare as good as possible. Yeah, we will see. Of course, it is something that -- it is not something, I mean, I am looking for, and I hope it is going to be all right." 

Tsonga's recent injury plagued years

Tsonga began his 2015 having to withdraw from the entire Australian swing and the Australian Open due to a forearm injury. After being un-successful in making a return in Indian Wells, the Frenchmen returned in Miami, where he reached the third round. Tsonga struggled through much of the European clay court season, before making an out of no-where, fairytale run to the last four at Roland Garros. After enjoying a career best result at the French Open, injury struck Tsonga again, with an abdominal injury forcing the former Australian Open finalist out of grass court lead-up events in Nottingham and Halle. Tsonga finished out the year relatively injury-free, looking good to go in 2016. 

The world number seven began his 2016 season at the ASB Classic in Auckland, making the semifinals before falling to Roberto Bautista Agut. Tsonga followed that run up with a fourth round showing in Melbourne, before mediocre quarterfinal and opening match losses in Buenos Aires and Rio respectively. After playing a Davis Cup rubber against Canada, the Frenchmen made the quarterfinals of Indian Wells, before a disappointing third round loss in Miami. 

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hits a forehand at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters/Getty Images
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hits a forehand at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters/Getty Images

Recently, Tsonga made the semifinals in Monte Carlo, before playing a dismal match in the last four to fall to Gael Monfils. The Frenchmen was forced to withdraw from Estoril a week later due to a knee injury, before his third round loss in Madrid last week. 

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Thomas Cluck
Thomas Cluck is an avid tennis fan who loves to share his passion for the sport through writing. Thomas is from Dallas, TX, and is an tennis agent and PR person. Thomas has been watching tennis for many years and covers the sport daily on his Instagram page @atpwta_tennis.