Two-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist Lucas Pouille says he is hopeful that he will be able to play tennis again this season after announcing plans to undergo surgery.
The world No.58 confirmed on Tuesday morning that he will be having an operation on his right elbow later this month in Paris. Pouille has only managed to play one match this year on the ATP Tour due to the injury, which was at the Indian Wells Challenger tournament where he lost in straight sets to Noah Rubin. The issue has been bothering the Frenchman since last October when he shut down his season early after the Shanghai Masters.
“It’s never an easy decision to take, but I will get surgery on my right elbow this month in Paris. After new medical exams, it appeared it was the best solution in order to finally be able to play pain-free. I still hope to play before the end of the season.” Pouille said in a statement.
Pouille initially looked to be on track to making a return to action after participating in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in June. An exhibition tournament created by Serena Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou. However, he lost two matches to Feliciano Lopez and Elliot Benchetrit before being forced to withdraw from the competition due to his elbow.
In recent days the coach of the former world No.10, Loic Courteau, said they will not be travelling to the US Open next month. Although it is unclear if Courteau’s comments were made before or after the decision to undergo surgery was made.
“I will not be in New York, for the good reason that Lucas… is not going to play the tournament,” he told French television.
Pouille has won five ATP titles so far in his career and has earned more than $7 million in prize money. He is currently the eighth highest ranked French player on the ATP Tour.
Pouille’s ATP titles breakdown
| 2018 | 1 | Montpellier (Indoor/Hard) |
| 2017 | 3 | Vienna (Indoor/Hard) Stuttgart (Outdoor/Grass) Budapest (Outdoor/Clay) |
| 2016 | 1 | Metz (Indoor/Hard) |
