Despite a Roland Garros campaign that ended with more injury heartbreak, Thanasi Kokkinakis is determined to continue his Grand Slam comeback.
Following his five-set triumph over Frenchman Terence Atmane on Monday, the 30-year-old pushed Pablo Carreno Busta in the second round before he retired early in the third set.
Having dropped the first set, then levelled with the second, Kokkinakis received treatment for a flare-up of his well-documented shoulder problem.
He played one more game before conceding the battle, seeing Carreno Busta advance 7-5 4-6 1-0 ret.
“[I’m] just struggling with the same injury. I could feel it getting worse. 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,” Kokkinakis said.
“It progressively got worse with the match. Yeah, I felt like if I kept playing, something bad was really going to happen. So doing some scans tomorrow.”
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Having spoken earlier in the tournament about his plans to complete one last season before reassessing his pro-playing future, Kokkinakis is hopeful of featuring in the Wimbledon draw when plays begins on 29 June.
“Not yet, not yet,” said Kokkinakis when asked if he would return to Australia this week.
“I'm saying I felt if I kept playing, that's me probably out of Wimbledon, as well, and maybe even US Open, and something bad to happen. I'm trying to be optimistic. I just want it play the Slams one more time. That's my goal.”
After a gallant effort, James Duckworth’s Roland Garros campaign also ended on Wednesday, with the Australian pushing Rafael Jodar before the rising Spaniard secured a 6-1 6-7(5) 6-4 7-5 after three hours and 22 minutes on court.
Three Australians will contest Roland Garros second-round matches on Thursday.
Following his upset of No.6 seed Daniil Medvedev on Tuesday, Adam Walton meets Zachary Svajda.
Kimberly Birrell will aim to back up her monumental win over fifth seed Jessica Pegula when she takes on Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova. Daria Kasatkina faces Swiss qualifier Susan Bandecchi.