Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard was forced to retire from his first round match in Montpellier for a bizarre reason.
The Australian Open has just concluded, with Carlos Alcaraz beating Novak Djokovic to win the men’s singles title.
Although the first major of the year is now over, there is still lots of tennis being played, including at the ATP 250 tournament in Montpellier where Felix Auger-Aliassime is the top seed.
One of the other players in the main draw was Frenchman Mpetshi Perricard, but his first round match was cut short after he suffered an unusual injury.
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard forced to retire from match for bizarre reason
Mpetshi Perricard, who is 6’7″ tall, is a two-time title winner and has the fifth fastest official recorded serve in ATP history.
The 22-year-old had lost in the first round of the Australian Open and was attempting to return to form on the indoor courts of Montpellier.
This is where he would play his fellow Frenchman Arthur Gea, who he trailed 5-3 in the first set of the match.
With Gea just two points away from taking the first set, disaster struck for Mpetshi Perricard when he volleyed the ball into his own eye.
Mpetshi Perricard appeared to be in serious pain due to this, and after losing the first set and receiving medical intervention he decided to retire from the match.
While it is unclear as to how serious this injury is, Mpetshi Perricard has also withdrawn from the doubles tournament where he was partnering three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, who is retiring from tennis this year.
What is next for Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard?
Mpetshi Perricard’s first round exit from the ATP tournament in Montpellier means that he has now lost his last three consecutive matches.
Despite retiring from his latest match, Mpetshi Perricard is actually scheduled to return to the match court this week.
This is for the ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam, where Alexander Zverev will be the top seed after Alcaraz withdrew.
Mpetshi Perricard is currently the top seed in qualifying, and could gain direct entry if any other player in the main draw pulls out.
However, following his retirement in Montpellier there is some doubt over whether Mpetshi Perricard will even compete in Rotterdam.
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