The No.4 seed was considered one of the tournament's top favorite. One of the top favorites to win Roland Garros, and a No.4 seed, is out.
Kiki Bertens retired from her second-round match on Court Philippe Chatrier after four-plus games, citing an undisclosed illness. After meeting with doctors briefly she left the court, handing Slovakia’s Viktoria Kuzmova the trip to the third round.
The Madrid champion said she woke up early this morning vomiting and had no energy on court today.
"Yesterday I felt good. No problems at all," Bertens told the media in Paris. "I was practicing, resting, and I felt really well. Ready for today.
"And then this morning I woke up at 3:00, and then I felt really sick. Vomiting, diarrhea all night long, all day long. I felt a little bit better before the match. I had some sleep, and I just wanted to give it a try, but then as soon as I start warming up right before the match, it started again. Yeah, there was not any energy left."
Oh no 😰
Kiki Bertens, a favorite to win the title, forced to retire due to illness.
"I don't have any power and I don't feel well."
Very sad and unlucky for the love-able Dutchwoman. #RG19 pic.twitter.com/U8kQ9H1ojo
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 29, 2019
Bertens, considered to be one of the WTA’s most lethal clay-courters, won the title in Madrid two weeks ago and entered today’s match with a 13-3 record on clay in 2019 and a 92-38 record on the surface overall. She was a semi-final here in Paris in 2016.
More to follow….
