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Belgian tennis player Alexander Blockx voiced his frustration at the French Open shortly after being forced to withdraw from the tournament having suffered a sprained ankle during a practice session.
Blockx, the in-form world no 37 who achieved a career-best run to the Madrid Open semi-finals last month, said he twisted his right ankle and heard a “snap” after tripping over the rolled-up covers positioned at the back of the court.
The 21-year-old was due to face eighth seed Alex de Minaur but the Australian has now been handed a walkover into the third round after Blockx suffered the injury during a hit with fellow rising star Joao Fonseca.
He was seen hopping on one leg and with his right ankle wrapped in ice as he made his way through the grounds before his withdrawal was confirmed.
In a post on Instagram, Blockx took a swipe at the “really necessary covers” at the back of the court, tagging Roland Garros, before he edited the caption and removed that line.
“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,” he said in the updated post.
“A lot of frustration but we move on.”
Blockx’s injury has striking similarities to a 2017 incident involving fellow Belgian David Goffin, the former world No 7, who was forced to retire from a third-round match against Horacio Zeballos at the French Open after suffering an ankle injury when his foot got stuck in the rolled-up covers stationed at the back of the court.
Goffin, who was the 10th seed and considered to be a dark horse for the grand slam, had to be helped off the court by tournament officials and retired from the match in the locker room. The covers are stationed at the back of the court to protect the surface in the event of rain.