I didn’t come here for the $50k, says injured Almagro

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Spanish world number 42 Nicolas Almagro defended his injury withdrawal from his match at the Australian Open on Monday, saying he had not turned up just for the $50,000 prize money that comes with a first-round exit.

Almagro lasted 23 minutes of his game against France’s Jeremy Chardy when, serving at 4-0 down, he double-faulted, walked back to his chair and conceded the match.

The 31-year-old, a quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park in 2013, cited his career earnings of more than $10 million as proof that his motivation was not the money.

“I went to court because I think I can play,” he told reporters. “I was top 10, I have more than $10 million. I’m not going to play for $50,000. It is not the reason.”

Almagro said he had undergone an MRI scan on his injured calf last week but had not felt the injury in training in Melbourne so decided to play his opening match.

“I was trying to play during the week,” he added. “It was tough. I did an MRI and the result wasn’t good. That’s it. I couldn’t play. I felt the problem again on court and I had to retire.”

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)