Tennis

Karolina Pliskova Retires from US Open After Three Points Due to Ankle InjuryKarolina Pliskova, the former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam finalist, suffered a heartbreaking retirement from the US Open in the second round on Wednesday. The Czech star played just three points against Jasmine Paolini before being forced to withdraw due to an ankle injury.The match began with Paolini losing the first point on serve with an unforced error. She recovered to 15-all after a Pliskova miss, and then took the next point with a forehand winner. However, disaster struck on the fourth point.As Pliskova turned to her right to retrieve Paolini's shot, she pushed off her left ankle and immediately hopped up in the air. She walked toward her chair and then, shortly after, ended the match.The injury was reminiscent of Aaron Rodgers' start with the New York Jets last September, when he suffered an ACL injury just four snaps into his season. It is a rare occurrence to see a 0-0 (ret.) score in tennis, but that is the case after today's unfortunate event.Paolini advances to the third round, where she will face 30th seed Yulia Putintseva. Pliskova's retirement is a major blow to her hopes of winning her first Grand Slam title. The 30-year-old has been in good form this season, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.The injury is also a setback for the US Open, which has already seen several top players withdraw due to injury. Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, and Simona Halep are among those who have pulled out of the tournament.

Andy Murray's valiant effort at the Miami Open ended in heartbreak on Sunday when he suffered a devastating ankle injury in the third set against Tomas Machac. Despite battling through the pain, Murray ultimately lost the match 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5).The extent of Murray's injury was revealed a day later, with the three-time major winner announcing on Instagram that he had suffered a full rupture of his anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and a near full thickness rupture of his calcaneofibular ligament (CFL)."This is a tough one to take and I'll be out for an extended period," Murray wrote.The injury occurred in the third set when Murray pulled up on his ankle after a forehand at 4-5, 40-15. The scene was reminiscent of Tommy Paul's injury a day earlier, when he was forced to retire after rolling his left ankle against Martin Damm.Murray had the ankle taped and continued playing, even saving a match point before forcing a tiebreak. However, Machac ultimately prevailed, leaving Murray devastated.Murray's injury is a major setback for the 36-year-old, who had hinted that 2024 would likely be his final season. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has been widely praised for his resilience and determination, having overcome a career-threatening hip injury in 2019.Despite the setback, Murray remains defiant. "I'll be back with one hip and no ankle ligaments when the time is right," he wrote on Instagram.If history is any indication, Murray will not let this injury define his career. He has repeatedly shown his ability to overcome adversity and return to the highest level of tennis.