French Open stars fume over player safety after several worrying falls

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleBritish tennis player Katie Boulter has urged French Open organisers to remove advertising hoardings after she and other players tripped over them during matches. Turkish doubles player Zeynep Sonmez was forced to retire from her second-round match after falling over a concrete ‘Lacoste’ branded block, sustaining an injury that required stitches. Boulter herself tripped over a similar block on Court 13 during her loss to Anastasia Potapova on Thursday, subsequently posting on social media about the danger these structures pose. Sonmez supported Boulter, highlighting that there have been "five incidents in five days" and questioning if a serious injury is needed before player safety is prioritised. Belgian player Alexander Blockx also withdrew from the tournament after injuring his ankle on a hoarding, while former Grand Slam doubles champion Pat Shriver criticised the tournament for various player welfare concerns. In fullKatie Boulter calls for French Open change after scary moment: ‘I got lucky’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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