Fixed. Paralyzed. Unable to move either legs or arms. Laurent Lokoli experienced a funny mishap in the first round of qualifying for the Australian Open. The 29-year-old Frenchman who had entered the table at the last moment was forced to withdraw against the Italian Federico Gaio (4-6, 6-4, 3-2. ab), victim of “generalized cramps” according to his own words.
“I couldn’t move even though I was ahead. Obviously disappointed, but I pushed through what my body could do today. (…) For the moment, I don’t know what happened to me, why my body suddenly shut down,” reacted the 277th in the world in the ATP rankings on X (ex-Twitter).
???????????? Poor guy… Victim of widespread cramps in his own words, the Frenchman Laurent Lokoli was unable to finish his qualifying match.
Follow the Australian Open from January 14 to 28 exclusively on Eurosport #AusOpen #HomeOfTennis pic.twitter.com/nSfbQmA3w2
— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) January 10, 2024
Folded in half on the court
While he had the break in his pocket in the third set, on a harmless forehand sent into the corridor, the Frenchman stopped short by dropping his racket. Folded in half on the court, Lokoli needed the assistance of his opponent of the day to stand, before the referee brought him a chair.
After resuming and still winning his service game, the Frenchman tried to go to the end of the match, before breaking down with new cramps at 3-2.
Hi everyone, thank you all for the messages of kindness.
My body cramped all over and I couldn’t move even though I was ahead.
Obviously disappointed, but I pushed through what my body could do today.
Time for care. ???????? pic.twitter.com/2G3PJVQqQA— Laurent Lokoli (@laurentlokoli) January 10, 2024
A real disappointment for the man who managed to enter the big draw of the Australian Grand Slam last year, just as he did at Wimbledon last July. Corsica will now have to manage the loss of points acquired with its first round in 2023. “The recovery is going well,” he has already warned on his social networks.
