Roland Garros runner-up Thiem pulls out of Halle event

French Open losing finalist Dominic Thiem has pulled out of next week’s grass-court tournament in Halle due to fatigue, organisers announced on Friday.

The 25-year-old Austrian was due to play in the Wimbledon warm-up event, but said he had to withdraw due to a “state of exhaustion”.

“I would have liked to play in Halle because it’s always a wonderful tournament,” said Thiem.

The world number four was beaten by Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros final last Sunday for the second straight year.

The loss of Thiem is a further blow to the Halle organisers after Japanese star Kei Nishikori also decided to skip the tournament.

The seventh-ranked Nishikori said he was still suffering from the arm injury he sustained in his French Open quarter-final loss to Nadal, during which he was treated three times on the court.

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The withdrawals make Roger Federer an even stronger favourite to win his 10th Halle title, having lost in 2018 final to Croatian Borna Coric.