Online Reporter
AN American tennis star has been forced to retire from the French Open after suffering a horrific injury in the middle of a match.
No. 26-ranked Hailey Baptiste screamed in agony as she hit the clay off-balance and her left knee buckled underneath her on Wednesday. Baptiste was hitting an inside-out forehand off her back foot against China qualifier Wang Xiyu when the injury happened.
The 24-year-old fell to the ground and instantly yelled out in pain to grip her joint.
She was in tears as she stayed on the court while doctors looked after her. The Washington D.C. native’s father, Qasim, also ran onto the court to comfort her.
Fortunately, she was able to be helped off the court as her left leg was held up horizontally. Baptiste was forced to retire as Xiyu advanced to the next round.Xiyu was serving for the first set at 5-4 before the incident. She will now qualify for the third round, where she will take on Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine.
Baptiste’s injury comes as the 24-year-old came to Paris on the back of her biggest career victory. She claimed a massive win over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Madrid Open.
The injury to Baptiste also came hours after Czech men’s star Jakub Mensik collapsed to the ground after winning a nearly five-hour match at the French Open. The contest took place in 91-degree heat as there was no shade for Mensik, who cramped during the fifth set tiebreak.
Mensik was able to come through 13-11 in the breaker to take the match 6-3 2-6 6-4 1-6 7-6 in four hours and 41 minutes.Once the ball left his strings for the forehand winner that ultimately clinched the match, Mensik fell to the ground.The No. 26 seed laid on his back on the clay with his hands covering his face.Mensik was given ice and covered with an umbrella as he was finally able to get up after around 10 minutes of treatment and walked off by himself.
He will have a tough battle to play in round three today.Meanwhile, Sweltering conditions during the opening week of this year’s French Open have added a fresh challenge, with players including Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina saying success will hinge on who adapts best over the course of the tournament.
Like much of Western Europe, France is experiencing higher-than-normal temperatures in May, with the mercury climbing past 30 degrees Celsius (86°F) in Paris and baking the red clay at Roland Garros on the opening four days.— Sun
Mathew Masinge