French Open favorite Kiki Bertens retires in second round with illness
Minutes later, Bianca Andreescu withdrew ahead of Thursday's match with Sofia Kenin.
Pre-tournament French Open favorite Kiki Bertens pulled out five games into her second-round match with Viktoria Kuzmova on Wednesday, telling doctors on court she was shaking and had no energy.
Kuzmova led 3-1, 40-15 when Bertens made the decision to stop due to her illness. The Dutchwoman came into Paris having the Madrid title to her name and boasting a career-high No. 4 ranking. Kuzmova now awaits the winner of No. 26 seed Johanna Konta and American Lauren Davis in the third round.
"Yesterday I felt good. No problems at all. I was practicing, resting, and I felt really well. I was ready for today," Bertens said in a press conference afterwards.
"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. As soon as I start warming up right before the match, it started again."
Minutes later, Indian Wells champion Bianca Andreescu withdrew ahead of her Thursday match with Sofia Kenin. The 18-year-old Canadian, playing her first tournament since the Miami Open, cited the same right shoulder injury that previously sidelined her.
