World Number 19, Stan Wawrinka has withdrawn from St. Petersburg Open 2019 due to his knee injury. The upper part of his left knee is completely swollen and owing to his fitness issues, Wawrinka has decided to pull out from the upcoming ATP tournament in Russia.

“It’s sad to no be playing in St. Petersburg Open but taking care of my body comes first… I’m working hard to be back on the court soon,” Stan Wawrinka posted on social media.

Last year, Wawrinka reached the semifinals of St. Petersburg Open 2018. He debuted in the event in 2016 and that year, the 34-year-old Swiss went on to be the runner-up in St. Petersburg, Russia. 

At US Open 2019, he reached the quarterfinals by pulling off the biggest upset of the tournament. He won two sets against the top-seed and the defending champion, Novak Djokovic and later the Serb retired from the fourth round due to his shoulder injury.

This year, Stan Wawrinka reached the finals at ATP Rotterdam and lost to Gael Monfils in the finals. The three-time Grand Slam champion of tennis is yet to open his title account this season. He won his last singles title at Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open in the year 2017.

The Swiss is expected to be present for the Asian swing. Before flying to Shanghai, China for the Masters 1000 event, Wawrinka might play in the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Along with Wawrinka, the 33-year-old, Tomas Berdych has also pulled out from the St. Petersburg Open 2019. Certainly, the Czech World Number 103,  Berdych’s withdrawal is due to non-medical reasons and the issue has not been disclosed.

However, after US Open 2019, he admitted that he is striving to be physically fit and his hip issues hinder him from playing professional level tennis.