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Vasek Pospisil back on the tennis court, just in time for the French Open but with no expectations

Vasek Pospisil back on the tennis court, just in time for the French Open but with no expectations

PARIS – Eight days ago, Vasek Pospisil finally got some good news.

Playing the French Open – originally thought impossible – was back on the table.

It was a goal to shoot for as the 24-year-old Canadian spent six hours a day frantically working to heal a bad ankle sprain suffered on the doubles court in Madrid two weeks ago with partner Jack Sock.

"I was very disappointed, obviously. When it happened I thought I broke it. I’ve sprained my ankle several times over the course of my career that that was by far the most painful one. But it turned out to be not as bad as initially thought," Pospisil said. "It was a pretty complicated sprain, it looks pretty good, considering that I’m on the court already. The first couple of diagnoses said I had a fracture, and that turned out not to be the case. It was a tough MRI to read."

On Saturday in Paris, Pospisil played the first competitive points since that injury, against veteran Finnish lefty Jarkko Nieminen.

Here's what it looked like.

He had done some limited, controlled movement the previous day; this was the first real test.

"I'm still protecting it. I’s difficult to be explosive because i still have that bone bruise which is still hurting," Pospisil said. "But it’s just pain, apparently it’s not something that can get worse. It kind of comes and goes, I’ll feel it when I make an awkward step, but not in general."

Where Pospisil does feel it is on the serve, because he pushes off that left foot and ankle. He said that against Nieminen Saturday, he was able to serve at about 90 per cent, far and away more than he had even tried to do since the injury.

That's one solid-looking brace on Vasek Pospisil's tender left ankle. But it could probably use a washing. (Stephanie Myles/opencourt.ca)
That's one solid-looking brace on Vasek Pospisil's tender left ankle. But it could probably use a washing. (Stephanie Myles/opencourt.ca)

In the first round, Pospisil will play Joao Sousa of Portugal, a talented player who is ranked No. 50 to Pospisil's No. 51 but has played a lot more weeks over the last 12 months (32 to Pospisil's 25). Sousa reached the final Saturday in the final French Open tuneup event in Geneva Switzerland, losing to Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci.

"Given the current situation, me being out for two weeks or so with the ankle, him being confident, and being more of a clay-courter, I’d say that maybe the pressure’s on him," Pospisil said, laughing. "I think I have a little less pressure for sure.  I feel I can go in there and just swing freely. I’m not expecting any miracles in terms of results this week. But I’m just going to go out there and do my best."

Pospisil caught a break with the scheduling. The first round of singles will be played over three days – Sunday through Tuesday. The top half of the men's singles draw – Pospisil's half – was chosen to play Monday and Tuesday. And Pospisil got a Tuesday slot (possibly because of Sousa's efforts in Geneva).

That's a few more days to heal. At this point, every hour is precious.