Wimbledon star compelled to retire in ache minutes into match as again ‘provides means’
Luca Van Assche was forced to retire from his first-round match against Marton Fucsovics after suffering a back injury just minutes into the contest
He suffered back pain(Image: BBC)
French tennis player Luca Van Assche was forced to withdraw mid-match from his first-round encounter after suffering a back injury. The world No. 80 was facing off against Marton Fucsovics on Court 9 when he sustained the injury just minutes into the match at 1-1. Van Assche exited the court with the physio for treatment but returned to continue the game.
However, his movement was clearly affected by the injury and an hour into the match, trailing 3-6 0-4, he decided to retire. Disaster struck for Van Assche while serving at 1-1 0-30 in the opening set.
The 22 year old won the point but immediately started clutching his lower back in pain and moved towards the umpire, seemingly calling for the physio. He played and won the next point, but was visibly struggling and doubled over in pain at the back of the court.
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Both players returned to their benches mid-game, with the score now at 30-30, and the umpire quickly called for the physio. After a brief exchange with Van Assche, the trainer informed the chair official that they would be leaving the court for a medical timeout, according to the Express, reports Wales Online.
Fucsovics was left waiting at the side of the court and had a conversation with the umpire before returning to the baseline to practise his serve. It took several minutes for Van Assche and the physio to reach the locker room, and the umpire announced: “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Van Assche is now receiving a medical timeout off-court.”
The Hungarian world No. 76 eventually stopped and stayed at his bench. Around 10 minutes after leaving the court, Van Assche finally returned and chose to continue.
He was broken immediately and lost four straight games after resuming play. Van Assche eventually got on the scoreboard again and even retrieved one of the breaks, but Fucsovics secured the opening set 6-3 in approximately 40 minutes.
Things got worse in the second set as the Frenchman seemed unable to move comfortably and produce power through his shots. He was broken for the fifth time in the match and decided to retire, walking to the net and shaking hands with Fucsovics and the umpire after spending one hour and two minutes on court.
Van Assche has yet to claim a win at Wimbledon, losing in the first round in 2023 and 2024, and going out in the second round of qualifying last year.
Fucsovics advances to the second round and will meet either No. 16 seed Learner Tien or Dalibor Svrcina.
