X

Arthur Rinderknech Injures Foot Kicking Ad Sign at French Open and Retires from Match

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIMay 31, 2024

France's Arthur Rinderknech plays a backhand return to Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry during their men's singles match on day five of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on May 30, 2024. (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP) (Photo by BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images)
BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images

Arthur Rinderknech was forced to retire from his second-round match at the French Open on Thursday evening when he suffered a left foot injury after kicking an advertising panel in frustration during his fourth set against Tomás Martín Etcheverry.

ESPN senior writer Tom Hamilton provided the details.

"Despite Rinderknech holding the overall advantage in the match, frustration got the better of him at 2-0 down in the fourth and he kicked out at an advertising hoarding, injuring himself in the process.

"Two games later at the changeover, Rinderknech required medical attention, and just a game later, at 5-0 down in the fourth set, he was forced to retire."

Rinderknech won the first two sets, 6-3 and 7-6 (10-8 tiebreaker). Etcheverry rallied back to win the third set 6-1 and went up a break in the fourth before Rinderknech suffered the unfortunate ailment.

Hamilton relayed Rinderknech's remarks to French newspaper L'Equipe afterward.

"I feel very good physically, but I just messed up." Rinderknech said. "I kicked into the wall, a little annoyed, at 2-0 when I got broken in the fourth set. I don't really know at the moment, but I hope I didn't break my toe. Afterwards, I could no longer put my foot on the ground."

Per L'Equipe, Rinderknech did not suffer a break but did sustain cartilage damage.

Rinderknech is ranked No. 69 on the latest ATP list. The 28-year-old Frenchman had made back-to-back appearances in the second round of the French Open. His best result at a major was a third-round effort at the 2023 U.S. Open.

Etcheverry, ranked 29th, will now play Casper Rudd in the third round.