LONDON, June 9, 2016

Jo Wilfried Tsonga has been forced to pull out of the Aegon Championships, which takes place 13th-19th June at The Queen’s Club, because of an adductor injury.

Tsonga retired while 5-2 up against Ernests Gulbis in the third round of the French Open, and has been unable to recover in time to take his place in the Aegon Championships draw.

“I am very disappointed that this injury means that I will not be able to play in the Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club,” said Tsonga. “It is one of my favourite tournaments, home of some very happy moments for me on the court – reaching the Top 100 for the first time and playing in the final – and I was looking forward to coming back. I hope to return in the future.”

Stephen Farrow, Tournament Director of the Aegon Championships, said: “I know how excited Jo was about returning to the tournament and it’s a shame that this injury will prevent him from doing so. We wish Jo a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to The Queen’s Club in future years.”

Defending champion Andy Murray will be aiming for a record fifth title when the event gets underway on Monday. He will be challenged Stan Wawrinka, and fellow Top 10 players Milos Raonic and Richard Gasquet. Exciting Australian Nick Kyrgios, the 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, and Grigor Dimitrov, who won at The Queen’s Club two years ago, are also part of the line-up.

Great Britain will have five British players in the singles main draw with Aljaz Bedene joining Andy Murray, Kyle Edmund, Dan Evans and James Ward. Bedene was third alternate on the entry list, but with the withdrawals through injury of Rafael Nadal, Jo Wilfried Tsonga and Leonardo Mayer, Bedene, 2007 runner-up Nicolas Mahut and 2009 Australian Open semifinalist Fernando Verdasco go straight into the main draw, which will be conducted on Saturday at 12 noon.