Rinderknech reconciles with Paris after ridiculous French Open injury
Arthur Rinderknech didn't have the best possible memories of Paris when he entered the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters on Monday.
The Frenchman had been forced to retire in the second round of the French Open on May 30, after injuring his own foot by angrily kicking a billboard on the edge of Court 7.
Five months later, he's back in the French capital in much better spirits. Invited by the organizers, the 60th player in the world made a superb start to the tournament.
Although he benefited in the first round from the leg injury suffered by Tomas Machac, whom he was pushing to the limit, he secured his ticket to the last 16 in style on Wednesday.
Rinderknech showed himself to be very, very solid to emerge victorious from a very tough bout against the great American hope Alex Michelsen. The two men went blow for blow, and the Frenchman came out on top in just over two hours, two sets and as many tie-breaks (7-6[6], 7-6[7]).
The Frenchman's joy was intense at the end of the match, and he took the time to celebrate his victory with the French fans present on court n°2, who never stopped cheering him on (see video below the article).
In the Round of 16, Rinderknech will once again have his work cut out against Grigor Dimitrov, world no. 9 and last year's finalist.
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