Petra Kvitova has withdrawn from the French Open after injuring her ankle in a freak fall while performing her post-match media duties.
The 11th seeded Czech is the second high-profile player to pull out of Roland Garros after World No.2 Naomi Osaka.
Osaka pulled out on Monday citing mental health issues amid a furore over her boycott of media duties that caused her anxiety.
Kvitova, who reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2020 and 2012 beat Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-1 in her opening match on Sunday and hurt her ankle shortly afterwards.
“It is with great disappointment that I announce my withdrawal from Roland Garros,” the 31-year-old Kvitova said on Twitter on Tuesday.
“During my post-match press requirements on Sunday I fell and hurt my ankle.
“It’s incredibly bad luck, but I will stay strong and do my best to recover in time for the grasscourt season.”
Meanwhile world No.1 Ash Barty overcame a strong challenge on Tuesday from Bernarda Pera of the US to win her first match at Roland Garros since she claimed the 2019 French Open title.
The Australian decided not to defend her title last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2020 title was won by Poland’s Iga Swiatek who will play her second round match against Rebecca Peterson on Wednesday.
Barty played on Tuesday with her left thigh bandaged and struggled before getting medical treatment at the start of the deciding set.
She eventually made the most of Pera’s lack of consistency to win 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
“I just keep fighting. I just keep trying,” Barty said.
Australian Open runner-up Jennifer Brady breezed past Anastasija Sevastova to reach the second round and match her best performance at the French Open.
The 13th-seeded American, who has never reached the third round at Roland Garros, won 6-3, 6-3 after breaking Sevastova at love in the final game.
But teenage wild card Oceane Babel’s inexperience was too much for her to overcome on her Roland Garros debut.
Facing fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina, the 17-year-old from France led 5-2 in the second set but eventually lost 6-2, 7-5 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
© AAP
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