Italian Open star suddenly retires after 22 minutes as worrying message issued | Tennis | Sport

Arthur Fils has sparked major concerns after retiring just 22 minutes into his opening match at the Italian Open. The world No. 17 has been one of the most in-form players during the clay swing, and came into Rome with a 9-1 record on the surface. But he failed to win a game against Italian qualifier Andrea Pellegrino and called it quits while trailing 0-4 15-40.

Fils has since confirmed that he felt something in his hip during the second game of the match, and didn’t want to take any risks. It’s understandable, given the injury woes the 21-year-old has faced in his young career already.

The Frenchman had been unstoppable since returning, and has already won a title in Barcelona, reached two Masters semi-finals, and finished runner-up in Doha. But he has now raised new fears after retiring less than half an hour into his first match at the Italian Open.

“I felt a pain in my hip during the second game,” Fils told L’Equipe following his sudden retirement. “I tried everything during the match. I called the physio to try and treat it, but it didn’t work. Unfortunately, I had to stop a little while later.”

Fils couldn’t provide any further information on the injury scare, but will no doubt have some answers in the coming days. He added: “These things happen.

“I’m going to get treatment, I’m going to talk with the team, we’re going to make some decisions. I just couldn’t take any risks before Roland Garros. There’s no other information I can give.”

“I’d say that probably it’s like my lower back, connected to the hip, which kind of like limiting me from the full rotation. I guess we just going to have some days off. We’re going to spend it on recovery. That’s the plan I believe for now,” she said after receiving a medical timeout before losing to Sorana Cirstea.