France's best female tennis player Lois Boisson on Monday pulled out of the Australian Open citing injury concerns. The 22-year-old world number 35, has not competed officially since September.
Boisson shot up the rankings last spring following her surge to the last four at the French Open in Paris but said on social media this week that she did not want to rush back into action.
"I know it was the right decision to make, even though it was difficult," she added.
Given an invitation by the French Tennis Federation to appear in the main draw of the circuit's most prestigious clay court tournament, she beat top 10 players Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva in the last-16 and quarter-finals respectively before the world number two Coco Gauff terminated her run.
The string of victories not only bolstered Boisson's bank balance with nearly €700,000 but catapulted her 300 places up the rankings and also brought her a list of accolades.
She became the first Frenchwoman and only the fifth player since tennis was opened up to professionals in 1968 to reach the last four during her debut appearance at one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York.
Complicated period
"I've been going through a very complicated period for several months," Boisson said.
"It has been a difficult time mentally and physically with these injuries that prevent me from being where I would like to be and doing what I love most."
Boisson refreshes partisans' thirst for glory at French Open
Boisson has never featured at the season's first Grand Slam tournament which starts on Sunday at Melbourne Park.
The draw for the competition will take place on Thursday. Carlos Alcaraz and defending champion Jannik Sinner will lead the men's section while Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek will be seeded to meet in the women's singles final on 31 January.
In Boisson's absence in Melbourne, Elsa Jacquemot, at 58 in the world, will be the highest-ranked French female player.
Just before the tournament, Australian tennis federation bosses revealed that the men's and women's champions will receive a €2.38m cheque for winning one of the most coveted prizes in the sport.
