Australian Nick Kyrgios was forced to withdraw from the French Open on Sunday after failing to recover from an elbow injury, saying a potential five-setter on clay was “too risky”.
The 23-year-old was seeded 21st at Roland Garros and was due to play compatriot Bernard Tomic in the first round.
Kyrgios’ withdrawal means that there will be eight lucky losers in the men’s draw and India’s Prajnesh Gunneswaran was next in line to play. However, the world No 183 had left Paris already, to play in a Challenger tournament in Vicenza. The Indian left-hander had earlier lost 3-6, 4-6 in the third and final round of qualifying to Elias Ymer.
While initially there was confusion whether the Indian would be able to make it back to Roland Garros in time and would he play, if he could. At the same time, Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti, the next lucky loser in line, was driving down from Barcelona to sign up for the main draw match on Monday.
However, in the end it was bad luck for Prajnesh as he couldn’t enter the Roland Garros main draw, being part of another tournament’s main draw already. This will-he-won’t-he caused much amusement on Twitter as well, with the new rules about first-round withdrawals at Grand Slams in play.
Gunneswaran would have been the next lucky loser, but he went for Vicenza. I guess he didn't foresee eight players pulling out #RG18
— Ahmed Abdelaal (@ahmedfederer) May 27, 2018
Meanwhile, Trungelliti is on the road! This would make a great movie someday. #rg18 https://t.co/b3z4FDvs0p
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) May 27, 2018
Gunneswaran may get in after all #prayforprajnesh
— jimmy soixante-dix (@hotdog6969) May 27, 2018
Today’s lucky loser list....players 2-4 have departed Paris. But next on list should arrive early to sign in pic.twitter.com/Prztt4JPTQ
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) May 27, 2018
#PARIS It can be literally called "Race To Roland Garros." According to @RealNiKLo the spot should have gone to #Gunneswaran, who is in Italy. But #Trungelliti is returning by car. Who will be the lucky loser #rG18?
— Luciahoff (@luciahoff) May 27, 2018
The enigmatic Kyrgios has not played a singles match since a quarter-final loss to Ivo Karlovic at the US Clay Court Championships in April.
“Having consulted with my team and medical experts it is deemed too risky for me to step out and potentially play five sets on clay, especially as I have not played a singles match in nearly two months,” Kyrgios wrote on Twitter.
“I’ve worked hard to be ready in time and desperately wanted to play Roland Garros, which is very special to me but I literally ran out of time.
😢😩😢😩 Sorry guys, I tried everything I could to be ready for @rolandgarros but I came up short. I’ll be back though. ❤️🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/jZ7OQpm28H
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) May 27, 2018
“A dramatic spike in load on my elbow could potentially put me back to square one and with the grass court season around the corner it is something I can not and will not risk.”
On Saturday, the world number 23 had claimed a doubles title in Lyon playing alongside American Jack Sock.
With inputs from AFP