Don’t judge me, says Tipsarevic after 15-minute match

LONDON: Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic quit his Wimbledon first round match after just 15 minutes on Tuesday but insisted players who pocket prize money for such brief encounters should not be judged.

The 33-year-old was 5-0 down to Jared Donaldson when he quit with a leg injury, becoming the sixth man to retire from the first round.

Earlier, Roger Federer reached the second round when Alexandr Dolgopolov quit when trailing 6-3, 30 after just 43 minutes complaining of an ankle injury.

Title rival Novak Djokovic also moved on in just 40 minutes when Martin Klizan, suffering from a calf injury, retired at 6-3, 2-0 down.

All first round losers at Wimbledon receive £35,000 ($45,220).

But Tipsarevic insisted that had he known he was carrying a serious injury he would not have stepped on court.

The 33-year-old said he had been assured by tournament doctors that he had not suffered a tear in his hamstring despite feeling searing pain following a practice earlier this week.

“I was 110 percent sure that I had torn my right hamstring, I could hardly walk. But the doctor said all seemed clear,” said Tipsarevic.

“I was expecting him to say that I had broken a tendon. I even took an epidural in my lower back.

“I went back to see him. I said please check, but he said all was clear. If he had said you have a tear I would not have stepped on court.

“It would be unfair if I did that when I knew just to take the prize money.” - AFP