French Open star wants compensation after horror injury and deleted statement | Tennis | Sport

Alexander Blockx’s team could seek compensation after the world No. 37 got injured during a training session at the French Open and was forced to pull out of the tournament. Blockx had been due to face No. 8 seed Alex de Minaur on Wednesday morning. But on Tuesday, he suddenly announced his withdrawal due to a sprained ankle.

Blockx then released a statement on Instagram, blaming the tarpaulin covers, which were rolled up on the edges of the practice court at the nearby Paris Jean-Bouin club. But he quickly edited the post, removing the mention of the court covers.

“Unfortunately during today’s practice I heard a snap in my ankle while I sprained it thanks to the ‘really necessary’ covers at the back of the court @rolandgarros which is why I had to withdraw from tomorrow’s match that I was really looking forward to. A lot of frustration but we move on,” the Belgian initially wrote.

He soon changed it to: “Unfortunately during today’s practice i heard a snap in my ankle while i sprained it, which is why i had to withdraw from tomorrow’s match that i was really looking forward to. A lot of frustration but we move on.”

Now, Blockx’s coach, former world No. 84 Ruben Bemelmans, has confirmed to The Athletic that the 21-year-old did indeed twist his ankle on the tarp, and they will now “consider seeking compensation”.

“For sure, there’s no signs (saying) ‘careful about covers in the back’. Are the covers necessary in Jean-Bouin? I don’t think so,” Bemelmans told them.

“There should be a solution for that because the courts are very narrow. There’s not much space behind the courts. So in my opinion, it shouldn’t be there or there should be another solution other than putting them on the ground.

“Because the speed of the game is getting so quick, and I mean the courts there are very very narrow. There can be other solutions than putting them on the ground.”

The covers are also present at the back of match courts at Stade Roland-Garros, and in 2017, fellow Belgian star David Goffin injured himself on the same tarp during a third-round match here.

Seeded 10th at the time, Goffin’s foot got caught under the material, and he went down, grabbing his ankle in pain. He had to retire leading 5-4 and did not play again until mid-July, missing Wimbledon.