Roger Federer survived a huge scare to reach the Wimbledon second round on Tuesday when French opponent Adrian Mannarino was forced to retire injured at the start of the fifth set.
Eight-time champion Federer was level at 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 3-6, 6-2 when Mannarino called it quits after just one point in the decider.
The Frenchman, celebrating his 33rd birthday, suffered a bad fall in the seventh game of the fourth set. Despite taking treatment from the trainer, he was hardly able to move and grimacing in pain had to retire.
Just five weeks shy of his 40th birthday, Federer faces fellow veteran Richard Gasquet, who beat Yuichi Sugita, for a place in the last 32. Federer fired 16 aces and 54 winners on Tuesday but will be concerned by committing 45 unforced errors.
Our heart goes out to you, @AdrianMannarino – it was a performance to be proud of and we wish you a speedy recovery#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/0uREBcRcrc
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 29, 2021
Russian second seed…
