LONDON – Wimbledon fifth seed Kei Nishikori fell victim to an existing calf injury as Asia’s top player withdrew before his second-round match on Wednesday.
The U.S. Open finalist said that a calf injury which troubled him last month in Halle had still not healed.
The world number five got through his in Monday’s opening round as he beat Simone Bolelli but after testing the injury he said he was forced to withdraw after little improvement to the problem.
“I thought it was really going to be okay. But in the fifth set of the last match I was hurting too much. It was hurting today just walking and running, so I decided not to play.’’
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Nishikori called his problem “not a big injury, but still, a little (muscle) tear.’’
“I thought it would get better in two days but, yeah, it didn’t get better. I’m very disappointed. Especially at a grand slam. I thought I was playing well on grass. So very unfortunate to lose this chance.’’
Nishikori pulling out sends Santiago Giraldo into the third round. (dpa/NAN)
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