Tuesday 22 May 2018

French Open 2018

As Nick Kyrgios prepares to test his fitness for the French Open in a doubles match in Lyon tonight, a stroke of luck has fallen the way of a compatriot due more than his fair share of good fortune.

James Duckworth was sitting in the stands, with his arm in a sling, supporting Kyrgios during a Davis Cup tie in Brisbane in ­February after another bout of misfortune.

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Over the past couple of years, he has torn a tendon in his right elbow, broken a left wrist when training and then suffered a serious foot injury that forced him to miss almost the entirety of 2017.

After claiming a Challenger title in Japan to finish 2016, he has played just four matches since and is now ranked 1070 in the world.

In a twist, Duckworth is a more certain starter at Roland Garros this year than Kyrgios, although the latter has done everything possible in recent weeks to overcome an elbow injury.

The 26-year-old boasts a protected injury ranking just outside the top 100 and earned a start yesterday when former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic withdrew because of a knee injury.

It brings to six the number of Australian men in the field, headed by the 22nd-seeded Kyrgios.

The 23-year-old injured his elbow in the Davis Cup tie and has only played two events since, reaching the third round in Miami and the second round of a clay court event in Houston.

Dispirited by an inability to shake the niggling injury, he returned to Canberra to receive treatment.

Kyrgios trained in Rome last week as Rafael Nadal swept to a 10th title there and an outing with his friend Jack Sock in doubles match against Federico Delbonis and Joao Sousa will provide a gauge as to his readiness for grand slam tennis.

John Millman and Matt Ebden, who have won Challenger titles over the past fortnight, are finalizing their preparations at the same ATP event where Kyrgios is playing doubles.

The other direct entry is Jordan Thompson, while Alex De Minaur was gifted Australia’s reciprocal wildcard as he edges closer to breaking into the top 100.

Bernard Tomic was the last player scheduled on Court 6 at Roland Garros as qualifying began overnight with six other compatriots attempting to make the main draw.

Thanasi Kokkinakis has not played since injuring a knee in an accident in the opening round of the Madrid Masters but is among those attempting to qualify.

Australia’s leading women Ash Barty, Sam Stosur and Daria Gavrilova are all in action in Strasbourg this week, while Ajla Tomljanovic and Isabell Wallace are also in the main draw in Paris.

French Open 2018

As Nick Kyrgios prepares to test his fitness for the French Open in a doubles match in Lyon tonight, a stroke of luck has fallen the way of ...