Britain’s Dan Evans was compelled to retire towards Frances Tiafoe in Vienna after struggling what gave the impression to be a severe calf damage on Tuesday.
Evans, who was trying snug when main 4-1 within the first set, pulled up after struggling a pointy ache behind his leg.
Regardless of looking for medical consideration, the world No 35 was comforted by American Tiafoe as he pulled out of the competition.
It was solely the second tour-level retirement of Evans’s profession and it means he will likely be a doubt for Nice Britain’s Davis Cup quarter-final towards Serbia subsequent month.
Evans had been anticipated to companion world doubles No 4 Neal Skupski in Malaga, however his damage may now put pay to captain Leon Smith’s first-choice line-up.
Heather Watson fell within the first spherical of the Abierto Tampico occasion in Mexico, shedding in three units to Ann Li.
Watson received the primary set 6-4, however the American – ranked 50 locations under Watson at 156 – raced via the second 6-1 and took the decider 6-3.
In different information, world No 8 Karolina Muchova has withdrawn from the WTA Finals in Cancun as a result of a proper wrist damage and will likely be changed by first alternate Maria Sakkari of Greece.
Czech Muchova was the eighth participant to qualify for the season-ending match after reaching the Cincinnati closing and the US Open semi-finals, shedding to American Coco Gauff on each events.
“Along with the group and docs we tried all the pieces until the final second to resolve my wrist damage,” Muchova stated in a press release.
“Sadly, the time wanted for the restoration is longer than we might’ve hoped for and due to this fact I needed to make this disagreeable determination.”
Consequently, the ninth-ranked Sakkari will characteristic in her third straight WTA Finals at this yr’s occasion, which begins on Sunday, after reaching the semi-finals a yr in the past.