Cameron Norrie suffered heartbreak at the French Open as he was forced to retire injured from his first-round match – the first time he has done so at a Grand Slam.
The British number one sustained a rib injury in the build-up to Roland Garros after he “overdid it with the preparation”.
Norrie took the court on a sweltering Tuesday afternoon in Paris and kept in touch with Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo for much of the first set.
However, the 30-year-old struggled to move after missing four set points in a tight tie-break and going a break down at the start of the second.
Norrie called for the doctor and the trainer after losing his serve, pointing at his rib as he sat in the shade.
He told his team “every serve is a struggle” but still opted to see out the next game.
But Norrie could barely push up off the ground to serve and approached the net when trailing 7-6 (9-7) 2-0.
Norrie retired at a Futures event in 2014 – a competition held on the lower tier of the men’s tour – but had previously never retired at a Grand Slam or ATP Tour tournament.
It is a blow to Norrie, having reached the fourth round last year, but it is also the safest option with Wimbledon beginning in just over four weeks.
The retirement leaves Jacob Fearnley as the only remaining Briton in the men’s singles, with Jack Draper missing the clay-court Grand Slam with injury.
