Monfils in freak injury
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ByEurosport
Published 17/10/2006 at 15:40 GMT
Gael Monfils was forced to pull out of the Madrid Masters after he injured his ankle while celebrating. The young Frenchman leapt in the air after winning a point, but came down awkwardly and had to be taken off the court in a motorised cart.
The 20-year-old won the first set 6-3 and looked to be heading for a comfortable victory over Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty. But he turned his right ankle badly celebrating a point in the second with the scores tied at 2-2 and had to retire after 52 minutes.
Hrbaty will now face the winner of Wednesday's match between defending champion and second seed Rafael Nadal and American Mardy Fish.
The morning matches had been delayed by torrential overnight rain.
During the storm the roof in the Madrid Arena sprang a leak and organisers had to wait for workmen to lay out tarpaulin sheets to prevent further water entering the courts.
Roger Federer - who received a bye through the first round - takes to the court later on Tuesday, bidding to win his 43rd career title, but his first in Spain.
The Swiss star takes on Nicolas Massu, who progressed in to the second round after Gaston Gaudio retired with a stomach injury.
In the morning's other match Sweden's Robin Soderling notched up a straight sets victory over Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-3 6-4 to earn himself a second-round clash against 2003 winner Juan Carlos Ferrero.
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