Back injury forces Tomic out of Miami Open

Johannesburg [South Africa], Mar.24 : Australian controversial tennis player Bernard Tomic has pulled out of the Miami Open due to a back injury.

Tomic was due to face Kazakh qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin at Crandon Park today, but withdrawn from the tournament shortly before the clash,Sport24 reported.

The tournament would have been Tomic's last hardcourt opportunity before the European clay season gets underway next month.

Since a third-round exit at the season-opening Australian Open, the 24-year-old has struggled with form as he lost four first-round matches to lowly-ranked opponents.

As a result, Tomic has also slumped to 44th spot in the rankings and is currently facing the danger of tumbling out of the world's top 50.

Tomic's most recent defeat came to 112th-ranked Bjorn Fratangelo of the United States who defeated the Australian star 2-6, 2-6 in the Round-128 of the Indian Wells.

Source: ANI