Bitter end

Sebastian Ofner against Marco Trungelliti today LIVE

Sebastian Ofner

(Bild: GEPA)

What a bitter afternoon: Sebastian Ofner had to retire in the first round of the ATP 500 clay court tournament in Hamburg!

The Styrian was trailing 1:6, 3:4 against the Argentinian qualifier Marco Trungelliti on Tuesday before he was unable to continue the match due to problems with both heels. However, Ofner gave the all-clear for next week's home tennis tournament in Kitzbühel and the Olympic Games starting at the end of July.

"I have to check out what it is!"
"It's nothing dramatic now. I can always feel it on my left side, I've already had two operations there. And I've had it on the right side every now and then. I'll have to check it out to see what it is. But I think it's definitely nothing tragic. It's just tedious," said Austria's number 1 in the Sky interview. Ofner had to end the 2022 season prematurely due to heel surgery; the year before, he was forced to take a month-long break due to the same problem.

Marco Trungelliti

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

"I said I'd try painkillers!"
Even before the duel with Trungelliti, the world number 50 had considered not competing. "When I was playing in, my lower left heel went in. I said I would try some painkillers. But then it was too much and it's not worth it for something worse to happen," explained Ofner. In any case, the home tournament in Kitzbühel is not in danger. "I still have a few days left and will find out what the problem is. I will definitely play and give it my all." The Styrian then has the Olympic Games in Paris on his agenda.

Ofner, playing in the main competition for the first time in Hamburg, got off to the worst possible start. The ÖTV player was error-prone in his first duel with the 34-year-old Argentinian in set one and lost his serve twice. Ofner even missed eight break points. The Styrian also failed to get going at the start of the second set, conceding another early break to make it 1:2. The 28-year-old then held his serve twice before giving up.

"If I don't win the second set quickly, I won't do it!"
Even before that, the Austrian had not run to every ball and it was clear that he was in poor health. "I knew that if I didn't win the second set quickly, I wouldn't play," explained Ofner, who had also had to retire from the Wimbledon doubles a little over a week ago. Back then it was due to slight shoulder problems and was also a precautionary measure.