CROCKED KATIE STILL CASHES IN
FRENCH OPEN
KATIE BOULTER will bank more than £20,000 by pulling out of the French Open after the draw was made.
And controversial Aussie Nick Kyrgios also withdrew yesterday before facing British No.2 Cameron Norrie in the first round.
Boulter, who shares a management company with David Beckham and Neymar, has not played this claycourt season since aggravating a back problem in the Fed Cup last month.
The world No.112 was not expected to play in Paris but surprisingly arrived at Roland Garros yesterday before officially withdrawing.
Following big hikes in prize money for losing in the early rounds of Grand Slams, a new rule last year was introduced to stop players carrying injuries into Grand Slams.
The opponents of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic both retired less than 45 minutes into their first-round matches at Wimbledon in 2017.
Players still get 50 per cent of the prize money for losing in the first round – £40,663 – as long as they are on site two days before the tournament. The lucky loser who replaces her in the main draw will get the other 50 per cent. Andy Murray was criticised for pulling out of the 2017 US Open less than 48 hours before the start and unbalancing the men’s singles draw.
A source close to Boulter (above) insisted she had wanted to play but had been told by her medical team that she was unfit.
The Leicester City fan posted on Twitter: “So disappointed to have to pull out of the French Open. I was still hoping to have a chance of competing but doctors have advised me not to take a risk with my back. Can’t wait to get back on court soon.”
Boulter stayed at Roland Garros to watch her Fed Cup team-mate Katie Swan lose 6-4 7-5 to Kristina Kucova in the final round of qualifying.
Britain will have just four players in the main draw: Jo Konta, Kyle Edmund, Norrie and Dan Evans.
Norrie will now face French qualifier Elliot Benchetrit in the opening round after Kyrgios ended his combustible claycourt season by pulling out with illness.
In a recent interview, the world No.36 branded Novak Djokovic’s post-match celebrations as “cringeworthy” and labelled “super salty” Rafa Nadal a bad loser. Kyrgios forfeited himself from the Rome Masters after arguing with fans and throwing a chair across the court.