Ash Barty has been forced to retire from her second-round match against Poland’s Magda Linette at the French Open because of injury.
The world number one entered the match carrying a hip injury and was wearing strapping on her left thigh against Linette on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Barty found herself in trouble early in the first set when she faced three break points in her opening service game.
The 2019 French Open champion held serve but was then twice broken by the 45th-ranked Linette, who did not drop a service game on her way to wrapping up the first set 6-1 in just 26 minutes.
Barty, who was not moving freely, left the court ahead of the second set to receive medical treatment but chose to abandon the match with the score level at 2-2.
The Australian had not looked comfortable in her first-round match when she needed treatment for the hip injury against American Bernarda Pera.
She eventually prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 and admitted after the match she was not fully fit.
Barty was making her first appearance at Roland Garros since her victory in the French Open final two years ago.
She chose not play in Paris last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this evening (AEST), Barty’s countrywoman Astra Sharma exited the tournament in the second round.
Sharma lost 6-2, 6-4 to 25th seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia in just over an hour.
Jabeur will play Linette in the third round.