For the first time in four years, Lucas Pouille finds himself in the third round of a Grand Slam. This Thursday, during the prestigious Wimbledon tournament, the French player benefited from the withdrawal of the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis to advance in the competition. The match, stopped with the score of 6-2, 5-7, 2-5 in favor of Pouille, marks a strong moment for the Frenchman, who had not reached such a stage in a Grand Slam for a long time.
Kokkinakis forced to retire, Lucas Pouille qualifies for the third round of Wimbledon.
Wishing Thanasi a speedy recovery 🙏 #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Tx3RCSduCg
— FFT (@FFTennis) July 4, 2024
A chain of favorable events
A few hours before Pouille’s victory, another French player, Arthur Fils, had also benefited from the withdrawal of his opponent Hubert Hurkacz. This double twist of fate allowed two French players to qualify unexpectedly. For Lucas Pouille, ranked 212th in the world, the injury to Kokkinakis, ranked 93rd, was decisive. The Australian seriously injured his left knee following a poor recovery and a big slip on the London grass, forcing him to withdraw.
A difficult start, but an impressive comeback
The start of the match did not suggest such a favourable outcome for Pouille. After losing the first set 6-2, the Frenchman seemed to be struggling, suffering from abdominal pain that required the intervention of a physiotherapist before the start of the second set. Despite this sluggish start, Pouille was able to turn things around thanks to a notable improvement in his serve and impressive efficiency at the net, where he won twelve points out of fourteen attempts. A superb crosscourt forehand allowed him to come back to level by winning the second set 7-5.
A destabilized opponent
Faced with Thanasi Kokkinakis annoyed by the course of events and complaining about his rope, Pouille quickly took the lead in the third set. He led 3-0 then 4-1 before the Australian slipped inadvertently, putting an end to the debate. Despite a bulky bandage applied to his left knee, Kokkinakis was unable to continue, thus handing the victory to Pouille.
A career marked by ups and downs
This is the third time that Lucas Pouille, who had to go through qualifying, has reached the third round at Wimbledon. The previous times were in 2016 and 2019. This run at Wimbledon marks a strong comeback for the Northerner, who has had difficult years marked by injuries and poor performances.
The video summary of the meeting:
An expected confrontation with Alex de Minaur
In the third round, Lucas Pouille will face Australian Alex de Minaur, seeded number 9 and recent winner of the ATP 250 in ‘s-Hertogenbosch on grass. This match promises to be a real challenge for Pouille, who will have to draw on his reserves and experience to hope to continue his journey at Wimbledon.
In short, Lucas Pouille’s victory, although facilitated by the retirement of his opponent, remains a highlight of his career, symbolizing resilience and an ability to overcome obstacles. His supporters now hope that he can create a surprise against Alex de Minaur and continue his London adventure.
2024-07-05 05:15:00
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