'Not really sure': Stefanos Tsitsipas in Australian Open bombshell

World No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas says he is 'not really sure' about his prospects of competing in the upcoming Australian Open.

Th Greek star's ongoing recovery from elbow surgery in November has left him in doubt for the season opening grand slam, with Tsitsipas unable to say whether he would compete at Melbourne Park.

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A bruising ATP Cup loss to world No.13 Diego Schwartzman saw Greece bundled out of the tournament at the hands of Argentina, with that loss following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Poland over the weekend.

Tsitsipas had withdrawn from the singles rubber against Poland due to concern over his elbow, but played the doubles.

He said after his loss to Schwartzman that he was still continuing to feel a substantial amount of pain and that it would remain to be seen if he would enter the Australian Open.

"I don't know what my future plans are for this tournament. I'm not really sure," Tsitsipas said after facing Schwartzman.

"I'd love to play, but I really don't know how I'm going to feel tomorrow.

"That was one of the biggest concerns - if I'm going to play this match today - how is the recovery going to be tomorrow, which was the issue with the doubles.

"If I finished the doubles, next day I couldn't serve. I was unable. I was in a lot of pain."

Tsitsipas added that his focus was mostly on his recovery for the time being.

"So I'm really hoping to be able to walk on court tomorrow and practice some serves without pain. That's my biggest goal right now, to have 100 per cent recovery on my elbow," he said.

"I have done lots of things in the last couple of weeks to try and protect it as much as I can and get it to 100 per cent again.

"So focus on my health and well-being more than any other thing right now."

Stefanos Tsitsipas sends mixed messages on Australian Open plans

However, Tsitsipas subsequently told the official tournament website: "It was good to see myself perform at such a level. I didn't expect it.

"It worked out better than I thought. I was able to hit balls that I was scared to hit two weeks ago, so I'm heading towards the right direction.

"It gets better and better every single day almost. We have plenty of time before the Australian Open begins, and I think if I take the right precautions and follow what my doctor says, then I can see myself performing at 100 per cent at the Australian Open."

The Greek world No.4, who had elbow surgery in November, was beaten 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-3 by 13th-ranked Schwartzman in a match that lasted two hours and 43 minutes.

"I was just trying to think that it was his first match for two months after his elbow (injury), so I was thinking just to try and be in the match... ," Schwartzman said.

"I am very happy because playing against Stefanos and being a set-and-a-break down is not easy, but I found a way."

Federico Delbonis beat Michail Pervolorakis 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 in the opening singles rubber as Greece lost their second tie in the round-robin event.

Bautista Agut, the world No.19, beat rising star Ruud 6-4 7-6 (7-4) after countryman Pablo Carreno Busta had eased through his singles match, 6-3 6-3 over world No.345 Viktor Durasovic.

Spain's win without Rafael Nadal followed an opening-day clean sweep of Chile, in which Bautista Agut dominated world No.17 Cristian Garin 6-0 6-3.

With AAP

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