Troubled Tomic quits French Open with injury

PARIS (AFP) –

Australia’s Bernard Tomic plays a backhand against Britain’s Andy Murray in Key Biscayne, on March 23, 2013. Tomic has suffered another setback in his faltering career when he was forced to quit his French Open first round match with an injury.

Troubled Australian star Bernard Tomic suffered another setback in his faltering career on Tuesday when he quit his French Open first round match with an injury.

The 20-year-old came into the second Grand Slam of the season against a background of controversy after his father, and coach, John was accused of assaulting his son’s training partner in Madrid.

On Tuesday, he dropped the first two sets against Romania’s Victor Hanescu before quitting in the third set to hand a 7-5, 7-6 (9/7), 2-1 win to his opponent.

Tomic had needed a medical timeout after just 10 minutes on Court Six for a leg injury even though he had just broken for a 2-1 lead.

But 31-year-old Hanescu, who made the quarter-finals in 2005, levelled for 4-4 and then broke for the set at 7-5.

The pair were into the tie-break in the second set when heavy rain sent them scurrying to the locker room.

However, just minutes after their return, Tomic offered his hand and left the court.

He had already quit his previous meeting with Hanescu in Dubai this year also with injury.

John Tomic had been banned from the tournament after having his credentials withdrawn for allegedly attacking Thomas Drouet, his son’s hitting partner, in Madrid earlier this month.

Tomic senior, who will face trial in October, was also barred from entering the Roland Garros complex as a paying spectator by French Tennis Federation officials.