Marin Cilic withdraws from ATP Maharashtra Open

The big-serving Croat will hope to regain fitness before the Australian Open starting at Melbourne Park on January 14.

Marin Cilic wrote on his Instagram account that the knee pain he had developed towards the end of the season has aggravated.

Marin Cilic has withdrawn from the 2019 Maharashtra Open that starts on Monday in Pune.

The 30-year-old Croat, in a statement about this on his Instagram account, said a knee injury was the reason why he is skipping the first tournament of the ATP Tour calendar. He will hope to be back to full fitness in time for the Australian Open which starts on January 14.

"I am sad to announce I have had to pull out of the Maharashtra Open. My sincerest apologies to the fans and organisers. I was looking forward to returning, however, my knee pains that began toward the end of the season have escalated," Cilic wrote.

"Treatments during the short offseason have been helping but there is still a ways to go and I cannot go into this tournament knowing I am not currently able to give 100%.

"I will miss celebrating New Year’s in India this year as I have done for so many years now, but I hope to continue my New Year’s tradition there next year! Happy Holidays to all and I look forward to seeing many of you in Australia!"

View this post on Instagram

I am sad to announce I have had to pull out of the @maharashtraopen. My sincerest apologies to the fans and organizers. I was looking forward to returning, however, my knee pains that began toward the end of the season have escalated. Treatments during the short off season have been helping but there is still a ways to go and I cannot go into this tournament knowing I am not currently able to give 100%. I will miss celebrating New Year's in India this year as I have done for so many years now, but I hope to continue my New Year's tradition there next year! Happy Holidays to all and I look forward to seeing many of you in Australia!

A post shared by Marin Čilić (@marincilic) on Dec 27, 2018 at 12:46pm PST