Pouille ruptures Achilles tendon: “I will do everything I can do come back”
The former Grand Slam semi-finalist admits he may have played his last match but will do his best to return
The images were disturbing. While battling it out in the final of the Lille Challenger against his compatriot Arthur Bouquier, Lucas Pouille collapsed on the court after falling. The Frenchman held his right foot and immediately realised the seriousness of his injury. Many minutes later, Pouille left the court in a wheelchair, his face hidden under a towel.
On crutches, the 30-year-old Frenchman returned to the court for the trophy presentation ceremony and was not at all reassuring about his injury. Worse still, the 102nd player in the world feared the end of his career.
“The news is, I think, not good,” he said. “I don’t want to make any statements until there have been tests. But there is a chance that this will be the last match of my career. I think it’s a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon.
“Playing tennis again at a high level after that is complicated. I’ll do everything in my power to come back, at least I’ll try. I’ll talk to the doctors and surgeons. That’s the way it is, that’s life.”
Pouille confirms rupture
Shortly afterwards, Pouille confirmed the details of the injury on his Twitter feed.
“The results are what we thought,” he said. “Complete rupture of the Achilles tendon.. thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your messages. I’m going to have surgery in the next few days and do everything I can to come back. See you soon.”
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