MINSK, 25 May (BelTA) – Belarus' number one Victoria Azarenka, ranked fifth in the world, was forced to retire from the first round of the 2016 French Open against Karin Knapp of Italy due to a knee injury, BelTA has learned.
The first set went on with a mixed success: Knapp took the first game, then Azarenka came to the front after winning three points in a row. It seemed that the Belarusian found her way but the right knee prevented her from moving forward. As a result, Azarenka's opponent took five games to win the set 6-3.
Fighting through episodes of discomfort, Azarenka twice broke Knapp as she served for the match, and saved a match point in the ensuing tie-break with a screaming winner, 7-6 (8-6), to push the contest into a deciding set.
Knapp raced out to a quick 4-0 lead from there, but Azarenka decided to retire due to a sharp pain in her right knee.
Up next for Karin Knapp is Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia (World No.87).
Olga Govortsova of Belarus (105) lost to World No.51 Monica Puig of Puerto Rico.
Belarus' Aleksandra Sasnovich was knocked out in her first game of the French Open by Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey (World No.83) 7-5, 6-7, 2-6.
In the men's doubles first round Belarus' Max Mirnyi and his partner Treat Huey of the Philippines will take on the Italian duo of Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi.
Winners of this year's French Open singles will receive a cheque for €2 million after a total prize pot of more than €32 million was announced for the 2016 tournament.
