Ankle injury at press conference ends Petra Kvitova’s French Open

Czech player fell and hurt an ankle after winning first-round game

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova celebrates after beating  Belgium’s Greet Minnen in the first round of the French Open. Photograph:  Christophe Archambault/AFP via Getty Images
Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova celebrates after beating Belgium’s Greet Minnen in the first round of the French Open. Photograph: Christophe Archambault/AFP via Getty Images

Petra Kvitova has withdrawn from the French Open after injuring her ankle in a freak fall while performing her post-match media duties on Sunday, the 11th-seeded Czech player said in a statement.

Two-times Wimbledon champion Kvitova, who reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2020 and 2012, beat Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen 6-7 (3) 7-6 (5) 6-1 in her opening match of the tournament and hurt her ankle shortly afterwards.

“It is with great disappointment that I announce my withdrawal from Roland Garros,” the 31-year-old Kvitova said on Twitter on Tuesday. “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 the grasscourt season.”

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Kvitova was due to take on unseeded Russian Elena Vesnina in the second round.