Tommy Paul made a painfully untimely exit from the Miami Open.
The Thirteenth-seeded Paul was pressured to retire after rolling his left ankle whereas main compatriot Martin Damm 6-4, 1-2 on Court docket 7.
It was the identical ankle that Paul rolled throughout his semifinal loss to Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells precisely per week in the past.
Serving at 1-2 within the second set, Paul rolled his left ankle attacking internet behind a slice backhand and instantly dropped his racquet on court docket.
Unlucky Scenes! @TommyPaul1 is pressured to retire vs Damm because of harm. Wishing Tommy a speedy restoration #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/anCmkxBrXQ
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 23, 2024
Hopping on one foot to maintain his weight off the injured ankle, Paul hobbled off court docket beneath the chair umpire’s seat and curled up on the bottom in clear ache.
It’s an agonizing finish for the American nicknamed “T-Ache” and a serious alternative for wild card Damm.
Large-serving lefty Damm, who rocked 10 aces in little greater than a set, superior to the third spherical towards Aussie Christopher O’Connell. World No. 66 O’Connell ripped 17 aces in a 7-5, 7-6(5) upset of Twenty first-seeded American Frances Tiafoe.
It’s been a breakthrough week for Damm, who scored his first profession ATP win within the opening spherical and adopted it up, albeit by Paul’s retirement, together with his first High 20 victory.
“Not the best way I wish to win, ever, it was an incredible begin to the match I believed,” the 6’8″ Damm advised Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “The gang confirmed up, nearly all of them cheering for him. These sort of matches is one thing I’ve been wanting ahead to for a really very long time.
“For this one, I believed I put up a reasonably good struggle in that first set. Very unlucky what occurred to Tommy.
“I by no means wish to see that occur to anybody, particularly an American like Tommy and the participant like Tommy is, however I’m positively excited to maneuver ahead.”
