Toulouse-Balma ITF. Joris De Loore: when the body does not respond
Defending champion, the Belgian failed to win again at the Open. This Thursday evening, he came across two tough opponents, including his own body.
Make no mistake, Joris De Loore was on a mission. That of keeping his title of the Toulouse-Balma Open won last October during the previous edition (postponed due to the health context). Yesterday, late afternoon, the Belgian, 608and world player, lost to the young Frenchman Harold Mayot in 3 sets (7-6; 4-6; 1-6) when he had won the first set. “This year, the context was different. Last year, I had eight or nine tournaments in the legs, now I have two. I have to stay in the legs, play and it will come back.”
The one who is nicknamed “Big Jo” because of his 91 meter first gradually entered the game. Hanging on during his first service game, he finally won the tie-break battle with a score of 6 to 2 and eliminated the advantage against a younger opponent, but better ranked than him (Mayot is 446and world). In the second round, the one who is a fan of Andy Roddick cracked at the end of the set on his serve and let Harold Mayot return to the game, a set everywhere.
A back problem in the third round
Quickly broken in the third, the defending champion is struggling on his serve. “Harold was playing well and serving very well at the end, I had service problems. I think he was one of the best in the table,” he said after his defeat.
A few exchanges later, he had to call the doctor for treatment.
“Physically, I was not very well. I was embarrassed at the level of the back and the hip. I really did not feel well”, he confided. For several minutes, he benefited from lower back care, but “Big Jo” was again broken on his serve on the restart and gave his opponent a unique chance to serve for the match.
The Belgian now has his eyes on his little finger injury to be treated and his next tournaments in England.