Top seed Ashleigh Barty has been forced to withdraw from the French Open midway through her second-round match against Magda Linette, troubled by a left hip injury sustained over the weekend.
The 2019 Roland Garros champion, who had skipped her title defense last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, entered her Thursday’s match with strapping on her left thigh and it was evident that her movement was hampered. At 6-1 2-2 down, the Australian decided it was best for her to retire in order not to aggravate the injury.
The sudden injury has caused a lot of emotional pain to Barty:
I’ve had my fair share of tears this week.
In the period leading up to Roland Garros, Barty played 13 matches on clay and won 11:
We have had such a brilliant clay-court season, and to kind of get a little bit unlucky with timing, more than anything, to have something kind of acute happen over the weekend and just kind of run out of time against the clock is disappointing.
During her first-round win Barty needed a lengthy treatment on her left hip and afterwards admitted she was not feeling 100%. The world No.1 hopes to recover by Wimbledon which starts June 28.
World No.3 Aryna Sabalenka is now the highest seed in women’s singles at Roland Garros, as second seed Naomi Osaka also quit the tournament on Monday. (photo: Jimmie48)
Is there a curse on this year’s Roland Garros…?
Frank, I was thinking the same.