Vasek Pospisil battling mononucleosis By QMI Agency

Vasek Pospisil has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to a battle with mononucleosis. (Charles William Pelletier/QMI Agency/Files)

Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to a battle with mononucleosis.

The virus may also keep Pospisil out of Canada's Davis Cup World Group first round matchup against Spain in Vancouver next month, depending on the speed of his recovery.

The Vancouver native is ranked 128th in the ATP and helped architect Canada's return to the World Group in a victory against Israel in September 2011.

In February 2012, Canada lost to France 4-1 again in Vancouver, before defeating South Africa 4-1 in September, in Montreal, to find its place among the world's elite in tennis.