Injury hits Barty bid
AUSTRALIAN preparations for the French Open have hit a speed bump with Ashleigh Barty injured, John Millman eliminated from a warm-up tournament and only three Australians left in qualifying.
Barty pulled out of her firstround match at the Strasbourg International against Daria Gavrilova on Tuesday.
The world No.8 says her right arm injury is one she’d had on and off since she was 16.
“I felt that it was back. I tested myself, but this morning (Tuesday), I knew that I will not be able to play,” she said. “I hope that I will be 100 per cent ... next week,” she said.
Millman was knocked out of the Lyon tournament’s last 16 by Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime 7-6 (7-3), 7-5.
Jason Kubler is the only Australian man left in French Open qualifying after Alex Bolt lost in straight sets to Adrian Menendez-Maceiras.
Australians Kimberley Birrell and Arina Rodionova were due to launch their bids to join the main Paris draw overnight.