Former world no. 10 Lucas Pouille skilled a devastating damage within the Lille Challenger ultimate. In search of his fourth Challenger crown in opposition to Arthur Bouquier, Lucas chased a drop shot within the ninth recreation of the second set and ruptured his Achilles tendon.
The 30-year-old left the courtroom in a wheelchair and returned for the trophy presentation on crutches, paying respect to his rival and the partisan crowd! The previous Main finalist confirmed the Achilles tendon damage and can endure surgical procedure on his left leg in a few days.
Lucas is conscious that he may need performed the final match of his profession. Nonetheless, he’ll do all the things to get better and return to motion. Pouille has been injury-prone for years, and that is one other undesired twist within the story after all the things labored so properly for him!
Arthur Bouquier wins his 1st Challenger title, beating Lucas Pouille 6-3 3-5 AD-40 RET in Lille.
What an unlucky finish to such an unimaginable run👇Arthur greater than doubles his rating tally and can bounce deep contained in the High 300. Pouille was taken off the courtroom in a wheelchair. pic.twitter.com/6f18MSRfk1
— Damian Kust (@damiankust) February 9, 2025
The Frenchman had been coping with private points after numerous accidents. He battled in opposition to melancholy and left it behind, returning to tennis and beginning throughout. Lucas embraced a notable run in 2024, passing 128 rivals on the ATP rating record.
He conquered two Challenger titles from 5 finals and wrapped up the season on the verge of top-100. On Monday, Pouille will crack the talked about group once more due to this week’s factors, simply to spotlight the irony much more.
Lucas Pouille & Arthur Bouquier, 2025 Lille Challenger© Fb – Play In Challenger Lille
Lucas suffered early losses in Brisbane, Australian Open and Montpellier firstly of 2025. He returned to Challengers and reached the title conflict in Lille. The previous top-10 star confronted Arthur Bouquier within the ultimate and served for the second set when the damage ruined his progress.
Bouquier denied two break factors within the first recreation of the match and welcomed Pouille’s forehand error within the subsequent one for an early benefit. Lucas saved a break level within the fourth recreation and added his title to the scoreboard.
2025 Lille Challenger© Stream screenshot
Arthur held within the seventh recreation for 5-2 and served for the opener at 5-3. The youthful Frenchman fired a service winner in recreation 9, wrapping up the primary a part of the duel 6-3 in 33 minutes. They served properly early within the second set earlier than Pouille closed the seventh recreation after a deuce.
He made a push on the return in recreation eight and landed a winner on the web for a break and a 5-3 lead. Bouquier stayed centered and generated two break factors in recreation 9. Lucas denied them earlier than experiencing an damage that ruined an entertaining match.
We want Pouille all the perfect and the energy to endure and return to tennis injury-free. He deserves that greater than anybody!
