Roberto Bautista Agut has retired just 23 minutes into his first-round match at the Monte Carlo Masters. The Spanish ace lost in the second round of qualifying but got into the main draw as a lucky loser and came up against Matteo Berrettini in the first match on the main Court Rainier III on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
But the match had barely gotten going when the former world No. 9 was forced to throw in the towel while trailing Berrettini 0-4. Bautista Agut appeared hampered in the final point of the fourth game, not moving much around the baseline as he was broken for the second time.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a long way off, isn\u2019t he?\u201d commentator Nick Lester said. Bautista Agut walked to the back of the court, turned around, and waved his arm towards his team, seemingly saying he was done.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs he just saying, \u2018Do I pull the plug here?\u2019 It does look that way, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d Lester added, as cameras cut to the Spaniard\u2019s coach, who looked concerned. Bautista Agut played one more point as Berrettini served with a 4-0 lead, but lost it, and walked towards the net to shake hands, taking off his hat.<\/p>\n
Berrettini realised what was happening and rushed over for the handshake, asking his opponent what was wrong. The umpire announced that Bautista Agut had retired, sending the Italian through to the second round.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s done. What a disappointing start to the day that is,\u201d Lester added. \u201cBerrettini knows all about this; he\u2019s suffered with injuries, but he\u2019s through. Day at the office, just 20 minutes or so. He\u2019ll take that. Disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Co-commentator Gilles Muller replied: \u201cEspecially being a lucky loser, got a second chance, but unfortunately wasn\u2019t able to take advantage of it, Bautista. Hopefully it\u2019s nothing serious, and he recovers quickly. Quick day at the office, but I\u2019m pretty sure Thomas Enqvist [Berrettini\u2019s coach] is going to book a practice court and get some work done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former world No. 6 Berrettini, a wildcard entrant at this year\u2019s Monte Carlo Masters, will now face seventh seed Daniil Medvedev<\/a>, who received a bye into the second round.<\/p>\n