British number one Cameron Norrie retired from the French Open in the first round on Monday, citing a pre-tournament rib injury. The 30-year-old was trailing Paraguay's Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 7-6 (7-5) 2-0 when he withdrew, marking the first retirement of his professional career.
Norrie, seeded 20th in Paris, had revealed the injury on the eve of the tournament after a lengthy five-hour practice match with fifth seed Ben Shelton earlier this month. He said he had been unable to hit since arriving in the French capital, having possibly over-trained.
“It’s a tough feeling right now,” Norrie told reporters. “I thought I would be ready but it was obviously too soon. I think I was just a little bit mentally tired, not having the ability mentally to put the pain away, the pain aside, and just play point for point.”
Jacob Fearnley was also beaten in straight sets by Juan Manuel Cerundolo, meaning no British men progressed beyond the first round. The news is a further blow to British tennis, with Jack Draper missing the entire clay-court season due to a knee injury and Emma Raducanu suffering a first-round defeat after a spell with post-viral symptoms.
Norrie's withdrawal leaves Katie Boulter and Fran Jones as the only Brits through to the second round, both on the women's side. Vallejo will next play 17-year-old Moise Kouame, who became the youngest player to reach the second round at Roland Garros since 1991.
