Félix Auger-Aliassime, seeded eighth in the men's draw, retired from his Australian Open match on day two with cramping, marking one of several injury-forced withdrawals that disrupted play in Melbourne on Monday.
Why early retirements dominated day two
Multiple players withdrew from their matches due to injury complications. Auger-Aliassime's cramping forced him to retire, while qualifier Marina Stakusic was taken from court in a wheelchair after also suffering cramps. British player Francesca Jones, ranked No. 71, withdrew from her first-round match against Polish qualifier Linda Klimovicova while trailing 6-2, 3-2 after a glute injury left her unable to continue.
Jones's difficult return to the main draw
Jones had received direct entry into the Australian Open main draw for the first time, a significant milestone after a difficult 2024 that saw her ranking drop outside the world's top 150. The 25-year-old had planned to retire in 2025 if her ranking did not improve, but instead enjoyed a resurgent season that earned her a spot in the draw. Her withdrawal marked a painful end to what had been a proud moment, as she limped from court with a towel covering her head while the crowd applauded sympathetically.
Jones, who competes with a modified grip due to a rare genetic condition, had also withdrawn from a match at the previous week's Auckland International due to a groin injury. The glute problem that forced her retirement in Melbourne emerged despite receiving medical timeouts and physiotherapy attention during the match.
Sources
- Golden444 News Updates: Australian Open 2026: Francesca Jones, Felix Auger-Aliassime & Marina Stakusic all retire with injuries in Melbourne. Published 2026-05-22.
Reported from public sources.