Tsitsipas Withdraws from Wimbledon
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas was forced to withdraw from his opening match at Wimbledon due to a back injury, bringing an abrupt end to his encounter with French qualifier Valentin Royer. Ranked 113th, Royer had already secured a two-set lead against the 24th seed, with the set scores at 6-3 and 6-2, when Tsitsipas chose to retire from the match after receiving treatment.
Match Details
During the first set, while trailing 4-1, Tsitsipas requested a medical timeout to address his ongoing back issues, having lost the initial game 6-3. After the treatment, he continued playing but ultimately opted to stop after the second set. Reports indicated that he expressed frustration, stating,
“It’s impossible to play tennis like this”
amid the pain.
Impact of Injury
This early exit from the tournament is particularly disappointing for Tsitsipas, who recently began working with Goran Ivanisevic, an accomplished coach known for his win at Wimbledon in 2001 and for mentoring top players like Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic. Tsitsipas had noted that Ivanisevic’s experience could offer valuable insights into his game, yet this injury hampers his ability to integrate that guidance effectively.
Recent Performance
Despite a promising lead-up to the tournament, which included participation in two exhibition matches at the Hurlingham Club—where he secured a victory over Frances Tiafoe—Tsitsipas struggled on the competitive stage. His recent ranking has fallen to 26th in the world, and the setback at Wimbledon may hinder his recovery.
Other Withdrawals
Tsitsipas wasn’t the only high-profile player to retire on the first day; Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur also withdrew, facing Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova, trailing 7-6(5), 2-0 before calling it quits due to discomfort exacerbated by the sweltering heat, which is expected to peak at 34C this week. Jabeur, a two-time Wimbledon runner-up, has previously suffered breathing issues during matches due to asthma.
Weather Policy and Surprises
As temperatures soar, the All England Club has activated its warm-weather policy, providing extra breaks between sets to help players cope. This tournament has seen its share of surprises already, as ninth seed Daniil Medvedev fell to Benjamin Bonzi, marking him as the highest-ranking casualty on this opening day of competition.
