Belgian Tennis Player Considering Legal Action After Withdrawal
Belgian tennis player Alexander Blockx is reportedly exploring the possibility of seeking compensation from the French Open organizers after being forced to withdraw from his second-round match against Australia’s Alex de Minaur. The Australian has had a relatively smooth path to the third round, securing a walkover into the next stage of the tournament.
De Minaur then faced another unexpected advantage on Wednesday night when his third-round opponent, Jakub Mensik, collapsed during his five-set victory over Mariano Navone in extreme heat. Mensik was taken off the court in a wheelchair due to cramping and exhaustion. He later criticized the conditions as “insane.”
It remains uncertain whether Mensik will be able to compete against de Minaur or if he will need more time to recover. There is a possibility that de Minaur could advance to the fourth round without much effort.
“I’m feeling pretty well – it’s just now about [getting] back the strength, a lot of fluids, and I’ll be OK,” Mensik said. “Alex has something similar game style as Navone today, so of course, it will be very, very difficult to put him under the pressure, but I’m doing pretty well here, feeling really in good form, so I will do my best to keep fighting and to get the W.”
Alexander Blockx ‘Investigating’ Potential Legal Action
For Blockx, his tournament was cut short after he injured his ankle on the practice courts before his scheduled match against de Minaur. It has since been revealed that Blockx tripped over a court cover placed at the back of the court for rain protection. His team is reportedly investigating whether to pursue legal action.
Blockx’s coach, Ruben Bemelmans, shared his concerns with The Athletic: “There’s no signs (saying) ‘careful about covers in the back’. Are the covers necessary? I don’t think so. There should be a solution for that because the courts are very narrow. There’s not much space behind the courts. So in my opinion, it shouldn’t be there or there should be another solution other than putting them on the ground.”
Previous Incidents Highlight Safety Concerns
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. In 2017, fellow Belgian player David Goffin twisted his ankle on a tarp at the back of a court during an actual match. Goffin had to retire hurt and withdrew from the tournament.
In 2018, Canadian player Eugenie Bouchard slipped and fell in the locker room at the US Open, suffering a concussion that forced her out of the tournament. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) was later ordered to pay 75 per cent of her damages.
