Seventh seed Thiem pulls out due to illness

[January 17, 2019]  By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Seventh seed Dominic Thiem's Australian Open came to a premature end on Thursday when the Austrian retired due to illness during his second-round clash with local wildcard Alexei Popyrin.

French Open finalist Thiem appeared frustrated during the match, smashing one of his rackets before retiring when trailing 7-5 6-4 2-0.

"I felt very bad during the game obviously," Thiem told reporters.

"Today I started to feel like the whole body hurts and generally, I was not feeling well at all.

"In the match, it got worse, the whole body was hurting I was feeling weak and no sense to continue."

Local favorite Popyrin will play Frenchman Lucas Pouille for a place in the last 16.

"The cause, I don't know 100 percent," said Thiem of the illness.

Austria's Dominic Thiem receives medical attention during the match against Australia's Alexei Popyrin. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

"I had some cold the last weeks and also when I arrived here. I have to check it when I'm home and that's it."

(Editing by Ed Osmond)

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