Not all tennis careers receive storybook endings! Even Rafael Nadal found his glorious form derailed by injuries, forcing him to retire in the 2024 Davis Cup. Now, the history is probably repeating itself. In a twist of fate, the player who once took down Rafael Nadal in the US Open proving his potential suffered an unfortunate mid-match mishap. He is Lucas Pouille. What will be the repercussions of his most recent injury? Will the curtains fall early in his case?

Pouille retired midmatch during his Challenger Tour final against Arthur Bouquier in Lille. The Frenchman injured his Achilles tendon in the second set. Although he still moved forward from the baseline, exchanging rallies, he couldn’t continue with his form. Pouille collapsed on the court clutching his right foot when his opponent led the set by 6-3 and 3-5. Post-match, he addressed the crowd with the biggest fear in his mind. “I don’t want to say for certain until there have been tests, but there’s a chance it will be the last match of my career, I think it’s total rupture of the Achilles tendon. Playing tennis at the highest level after that is complicated,” he said.

Despite the heartbreak, Pouille thanked his supporters and showed a spirit for a comeback. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your messages. I’m going to have surgery in the next few days and do everything I can to come back. See you soon,” he said. However, not everything happens according to the plan!

Pouille’s statement has caught the fans off guard, given his impressive career. He was a consistent multi-surface player at his peak and reached a career-high rank of No. 10 in 2018. The same year, he reached three finals, the Occitanie Open, Open 13, and Dubai Tennis Championships. Poille won a total of 5 titles, with his best Grand Slam performances being his appearance in the 2019 Australian Open semifinals, and the 2016 Wimbledon and the US Open quarterfinals.

While his record highlights his potential, his injury shatters hopes. But that’s not something new to the Frenchman. He injured his right elbow in 2019 and struggled to regain his form for the next two years. It forced him to contemplate retirement as well. “I locked myself in, I didn’t tell anyone. (…) I was in a bad phase. And I made the decision to say stop. Otherwise, I would have ended up in Sainte-Anne, at the crazy house. For my mental health, I had to stop,” Pouille previously revealed.

Since that moment, mental health has become a focal point for Pouille. In an interview with L’Equpe, he stressed that he prioritizes his happiness over everything else.

Lucas Pouille believed “It’s okay to sometimes feel bad, to feel weak”

Lucas Pouille once talked about how early fame and money impacted his life. But then it was his fatherhood that gave him the right perspective. “When you’re young and you make money, you take advantage of it, you see priorities where they aren’t in reality. I have more maturity now. I have my daughter. That is more important than buying nice clothes or a nice car. That was not my case before. Today, I am happy with simple things,” he said.

Pouille is not bothered about his image in the media anymore. “For me was so important, because you know, being an athlete, being a tennis player, you always have to give a good image of yourself. You always want to be proud on the court, not to show too much emotion, showing that you are strong,” he added.

Having experienced significantly turbulent phases in his life, Pouille doesn’t shy away from talking about his struggles publicly. “People have to understand that it’s okay to sometimes feel bad, to feel weak, to feel sad sometimes. We are human beings, and it’s important to talk about it, and to feel free, and not to feel guilty, or ashamed to talk, that’s important,” he reflected.

Despite being blessed with immense talent and a positive attitude, Pouille couldn’t find consistency on the court throughout his career. One can only hope that his career doesn’t end with an unfortunate injury.