French Open: Petra Kvitova withdraws after injuring ankle

It is with great disappointment that I announce my withdrawal from Roland Garros. During my post-match press requirements on Sunday I fell and hurt my ankle. Unfortunately, after an MRI and much discussion with my team

Paris: A day after Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open, Czech tennis player Petra Kvitova had to withdraw as she injured herself while attending her post-match press requirements.

“It is with great disappointment that I announce my withdrawal from Roland Garros. During my post-match press requirements on Sunday I fell and hurt my ankle. Unfortunately, after an MRI and much discussion with my team, I have made the tough decision that it would be unwise to play on it. It’s incredibly bad luck, but I will stay strong and do my best to recover in time for grass-court season,” Kvitova wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, Osaka had pulled out of the French Open citing mental health and revealing that she suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018.

“The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that. Anyone that knows me knows I’m introverted, and anyone that has seen me at the tournaments will notice that I’m often wearing headphones as that helps dull my social anxiety,” Osaka said in a statement on Twitter.

French Tennis Federation President Gilles Moretton wished her the “quickest possible recovery” and said the French Open looks forward to have Osaka next year.

“First and foremost, we are sorry and sad for Naomi Osaka. The outcome of Naomi withdrawing from Roland-Garros is unfortunate. We wish her the best and the quickest possible recovery, and we look forward to having Naomi at our Tournament next year,” said Moretton in a statement released by French Open.

“As all the Grand Slams, the WTA, the ATP, and the ITF, we remain very committed to all athletes’ well-being and to continually improving every aspect of players’ experience in our Tournament, including with the Media, like we have always strived to do,” he added.

World number two Osaka was on Sunday was fined 15,000 dollars for skipping the press conference following her win in the first round in the ongoing French Open. (ANI)