The world No.6, who complained of jet-lag after slumping
to a straight-sets loss to Austria's Jurgen Melzer in the first round, was
beaten by Japan's Kei Nishikori 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Thursday and has elected not
to play his third and final match, tournament director Colin Stubs said.
"He's a bit jet-lagged and he just felt like 'if I'm
going to give myself half a chance I've got to have a day off.' It's not an
injury per se," Stubs said.
Tsonga arrived in Melbourne this week after a long-haul
flight from the Middle East where he won the Qatar Open following his
appearance at an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.
His withdrawal followed Canadian Milos Raonic's pull-out
from the eight-man field at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club on Wednesday after his
first-round defeat to Mardy Fish.
Raonic, who won the Chennai Open on Sunday, withdrew
citing a stomach bug.
Organizers were forced to scramble to find replacements
to pad out the draw, with American Sam Querrey and Serbia's Viktor Troicki
drafted in to play each other in an exhibition match on Friday.
"You live to fight another day," Stubs said of
Tsonga's exit. "If I cracked it with everyone who did that to me, I
wouldn't have an event." American world number eight Mardy Fish will play
Melzer for a place in Saturday's final against Australian teenager Bernard
Tomic who ground down 15th-ranked Frenchman Gael Monfils in three sets on
Thursday.
Andy Murray will also make an appearance at the warm-up
tournament on Friday, playing a one-off exhibition match against Argentine
veteran David Nalbandian as he seeks a last competitive hit-out before the
year's first grand slam.
The Kooyong Classic guarantees players three matches on
the same court surface used at Melbourne Park.
The Jan. 16-29 Australian Open starts on Monday.
