Frances Tiafoe forced to retire from Cincinnati Open ignoring team in back spasm trouble

Frances Tiafoe has been forced to retire from the Cincinnati Open after struggling with back spasms during his fourth round match against Holger Rune. He reached the final losing to Jannik Sinner last year and he called the physio and received treatment towards the end of the first set.

Tiafoe has become the latest player to struggle physically as recent woes continue with Arthur Rinderknech in particular collapsing and now the American has had to retire. He smashed the ball into the air in frustration. His team were keen for him to continue playing telling him that the painkillers would kick in.

But instead of waiting he decided to curtail the tie and retired with Rune leading 6-4, 3-1 40-15. The No.10 seed received a medical time out before Rune served for the first set but Tiafoe went an early break down in set two. He smashed a ball into the crowd

“A short while ago, this happened on centre court, a code violation followed. A clearly frustrated and in pain Frances Tiafoe. Last year’s finalist, he has points to defend, he has the US Open to prepare for,” Gigi Salmon told viewers on Sky Sports.

“Last time we checked in on centre court he was receiving medical treatment at the end of the first set. We believe it’s a back spasm. His team are telling him to continue, he’s saying, ‘I can’t continue’, and they’re saying, ‘Look, tough it out, it’s going to be okay’.

“He has had some treatment and taken some medication but it’s tough, he has been saying, ‘I cannot go on, I cannot play anymore’, and his team is saying, ‘If it’s a spasms, tough it out, it’s going to loosen up, medication is going to help’.”

He said to Rune that the back issue came plainly out of nowhere as he finally gave in and walked towards the net when he lost another point on serve to give Rune two more break points. He shook hands with Rune at the net and told him that he got up at 4-3 in the first set and it started to spasm. He is the sixth man to retire from the main draw this year in Cincinnati. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Camilo Ugo Carabelli, Luciano Darderi, Arthur Rinderknech, and Jakub Mensik thus far have had to exit out.