Duckworth advances after Diallo retirement at French Open

Australian tennis player James Duckworth has progressed to the second round of the French Open after his opening-day opponent Gabriel Diallo withdrew due to injury, marking the first walkover victory of the tournament at Roland-Garros.

The 34-year-old, ranked 82nd globally, dominated the Canadian 24-year-old Diallo in the opening set, securing a commanding 6-3 victory in just 43 minutes. Duckworth continued his momentum in the second set, establishing a 4-1 lead before Diallo's physical struggles forced his retirement from the match.

Diallo hampered by pre-tournament injuries

Diallo's withdrawal came after the 49th-ranked player arrived at the Paris clay courts already compromised by a lower back complaint. The injury problems were compounded when the Canadian cut a finger on broken glass just days before his scheduled first-round encounter with the Australian, further impacting his ability to compete.

Duckworth will now meet 27th-seeded Spanish young gun Rafael Jodar or American Aleksandar Kovacevic, who is ranked 67th

The circumstances surrounding Diallo's withdrawal highlight the physical toll of the professional tennis calendar, where players often arrive at major tournaments managing pre-existing injuries in hopes of competing at the highest level.

Duckworth's second Roland-Garros second-round appearance

The victory represents only the second time Duckworth has reached the second round at Roland-Garros during his professional career. The New South Wales native, who has long been a competitive fixture on the ATP tour, will face either Spain's Rafael Jodar or American Aleksandar Kovacevic in his next match.

Duckworth's performance in the opening set demonstrated clinical tennis, breaking Diallo's serve decisively at 4-2 after the Canadian misfired a backhand under pressure. The Australian and his opponent had traded service holds early in the set before Duckworth's superior ranking and experience began to show on the opening day of the grand slam.

Injury retirements at major tournaments

While injury retirements during grand slam matches are not uncommon—particularly at Roland-Garros, where the physical demands of clay-court tennis exact a particular toll—the circumstances of Diallo's withdrawal underscore the gamble young players take when competing with undisclosed injuries.

Duckworth's unexpected path through the first round provides the Australian with momentum heading into what will be a challenging second-round fixture against either the Spanish prospect Jodar or American Kovacevic.

Source: ABC News