Aussie Duckworth Advances at French Open After Rival Hurt

James Duckworth didn't get to finish his match, but the Australian tennis player is celebrating a hard-earned win at the French Open anyway.

The 34-year-old advanced to the second round at Roland-Garros after his opponent, Canada's Gabriel Diallo, had to pull out injured during their opening match. Duckworth was dominating the court, leading 6-3, 4-1 when Diallo made the difficult decision to retire.

Diallo had been struggling with lower back problems heading into the tournament. Just days before the match, he reportedly cut his finger on a glass bottle, adding to his physical challenges.

Duckworth played confidently from the start. He won the first set in just 43 minutes, breaking Diallo's serve at a crucial moment when the Canadian sent a backhand into the net under pressure.

The second set showed Duckworth's experience and skill. While Diallo fought through two break points to hold in the opening game, the Australian broke through twice more before his opponent had to withdraw.

The Bright Side

This victory marks a milestone comeback for Duckworth. He last reached the second round at the French Open in 2021, making this only the second time in his career he's advanced past the first round on the famous clay courts.

At 34, Duckworth proves that perseverance pays off in professional tennis. The 82nd-ranked player held his composure throughout, never giving his higher-ranked opponent (49th) a chance to find his rhythm.

Duckworth now faces either 27th-seeded Spanish player Rafael Jodar or American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the next round. He's part of a strong Australian contingent at this year's tournament, with 13 Aussies total competing in singles events—seven men and six women.

While injury retirements are never the preferred way to win, Duckworth's solid performance throughout the match showed he earned his advancement.