'Something bad was really going to happen': Kokkinakis quits Roland-Garros with another major in mind
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Yet again, Thanasi Kokkinakis' mind - and game - was willing, but his surgically repaired body was not.
The uber-talented, injury-riddled South Australian was forced to retire from the French Open after his painful pectoral muscle played up at Roland-Garros.
The 30-year-old was locked in a fierce second round scrap with Pablo Carreno Busta, who advanced via walkover with the score reading 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 to the Spaniard.
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Thanasi Kokkinakis during a medical time-out at Roland Garros. NurPhoto via Getty Images
After winning the second set, Kokkinakis did not feel he could carry on serving in the third without making the chronic issue worse.
"I'm just struggling with the same injury. I could feel it getting worse," the dejected veteran despaired.
"I kind of came into the match with a lot of doubts, because I wanted to go out there and give it a crack, but I knew it didn't feel right.
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Thanasi Kokkinakis during a medical time-out at Roland Garros. NurPhoto via Getty Images
"It progressively got worse with the match. I felt like if I kept playing, something bad was really going to happen. So doing some scans tomorrow."
Kokkinakis had experimental surgery last year to try and fix the debilitating problem.
His surgeon used an Achilles tendon taken from a dead donor as a graft to reattach the pectoral muscle to his shoulder.
Paige Henry, model and girlfriend of Thanasi Kokkinakis, watches his match. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Kokkinakis, who had his girlfriend Paige Henry at Court 9 for support, said he would stay in Europe and do his best to get fit for Wimbledon.
"I'm saying I felt if I kept playing, that's me probably out of Wimbledon as well and maybe even US Open. I'm trying to be optimistic. I just want to play the slams one more time. That's my goal."
There are now four Aussie players left in the singles draw: Alex de Minaur, Adam Walton, Kim Birrell and Daria Kasatkina.
Rafael Jodar of Spain plays a forehand. Getty
James Duckworth also bowed out in the second round as gun Spanish teen Rafael Jodar advanced 6-1, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5.
"I gave it everything I could. Just wasn't quite good enough in some key moments unfortunately," Duckworth told Stan Sport's Chris Stubbs.
"I put myself in good position halfway through that third set but just a few costly errors at unfortunate times.
"I'm playing a pretty good level, it's probably the best I've played on this surface in five years for sure. But yeah, I'm pretty pissed I lost now. Especially being up a break in the third set."
Jodar, 19, is the 27th seed and viewed as a likely grand slam champion of the future.
"He's a great up and coming talent, hits the ball really big on both sides. I'm sure he's going to rise up the rankings pretty quick - as he has. I'm sure he'll be top 10," Duckworth said.
