Ernests Gulbis forced out of French Open with injury
Injury has thwarted Ernests Gulbis’ French Open campaign in the first round, with the Latvian forced to retire with a thigh injury in his first round match on the opening day’s play.
Gulbis, who rose to prominence with his second round victory over world No. 1 Roger Federer at the Rome Masters 1000 in April, sustained the injury after accidentally sliding into the splits in his first round match against Frenchman Julien Benneteau.
Benneteau was leading 6-4, 6-2, 1-0 when Gulbis retired hurt from the match.
“When I returned a serve, 2-1, second set, I stretched my leg, my hamstrings, and I heard two cracks,” Gulbis said at his post-match press conference. “I hope it's nothing serious, because it can be anything, but it's for sure like a little bit stretch of the muscle, but I hope it's not here.”
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga dropped the first set in his first round match against Daniel Brands before staging a comeback to eventually take a five-set victory over the German and keep his French Open campaign on track.
Last year’s runner-up Robin Soderling was untroubled in his opening match against another Frenchman, Laurent Recouderc, winning in straight sets 6-0, 6-2, 6-3.
Tenth seed Marin Cilic took four sets to secure his place in the second round, his big-hitting game defeating Brazil’s Ricardo Mello 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Russian No. 1 and 11th seed Mikhail Youzhny was the other of the big names to win his first round match on the opening day of the French Open on Sunday.