Tennis: Italian Open starts without Sinner

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 6 - Qualifying for the Italian Open, the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, got under way in Rome on Monday after the most hotly awaited player, world number two Jannik Sinner, announced he would be missing the tournament due to the hip injury that forced him to pull out of last week's event in Madrid.
    "It's a tough call for me to not play here but I have to take care of my body firstly," the 22-year-old Italian star told a press conference on Sunday.
    "It's a tough one to swallow, but I'm happy that there are so many other Italians playing, a big amount of players and they will have a great support.
    "I'll be rooting for them from the television and I wish them all the best.
    "I have to accept it even if it hurts me and many fans. We realised something is not totally good. If it is not 100% healed, I'll stay out a little longer.
    "Caring for the body is much more important than everything else.
    "I'll just try to get back to 100 per cent as soon as possible, hopefully trying to play (at the French Open) in Paris and then Wimbledon and all the rest.
    "We'll take our time, there's no rush and hopefully I can get back very, very soon." The Italian star has won three titles in 2024, including the Australian Open, his first grand slam. (ANSA).