Jordan Thompson's frustrating battles with injury during the clay-court season have continued with the Australian No.3 having to pull out before his second-round match at the Italian Open.
While his fellow Sydneysider Alexei Popyrin, Australia's No.2, enjoyed a victory to set up a tilt at Daniil Medvedev in the third round, Thompson's withdrawal because of an oblique muscle injury is a blow with the season's second grand slam, the French Open, just over a fortnight away.
