The earliest retirement in a match I can remember is Dinara Safina in the 2009 YEC vs Jankovic, I think it was 1-1 in the first. Dinara was #1 and playing great, but had big time back problems that suddenly took over and she couldnt play anymore. She was in her prime and a really good player and suddenly was off the tour in her mid 20s

 

Petkovic vs Venus 2011 Australian Open?

 

Interestingly, Petkovic has been involved in the two shortest AO matches. Obviously Venus' retirement in 2011 and also having to retire herself against Chakvetadze in R1 2008, which I believe was even shorter, blowing out her knee at 40-30 in the first game.

 

Good thread! I vaguely remember back in 1996 a final in which the opponent retired at 40-15 in the first game! I’ll need to go back and research this now. I’m sure it involved Barbara Paulus and Sandra Cecchini.

 

My long term memory served me correct. It was a WTA 250 final in Maria Lankowitz, Austria, 1996.

Cecchini retired before the first game completed - although I never knew the reason. I’m sure the reason was stated on teletext back in the day.

 

Redirect Notice

Although it is ATP, it easily has to be Haas

 

Poor bugger!

 

Petkovic retired during the first game against Chakvetadze in the first round at the AO in 2008.

 

Maybe not the quickest due to the trainer coming out, but honourable mention for this one:

 

Iconic battle of who can retire first!

 

That time when Serena was drunk at Wimbledon and they retired from the doubles.

 

At the 1996 Austrian Open final, Sandra Cecchini retired at 15-40 in the first game against Barbara Paulus.

EDIT - I see it's already been mentioned. According to the below thread, she injured her left foot:

What happened to Sandra Cecchini in the Maria Lankowitz...

I was dinking around on the WTA Since 1996 site, and stumbled across first Barbara Paulus and her titles. I noticed in 1996 she won Maria Lankowitz, (Who, what, where is this?) by "beating" poor Sandra Cecchini of Italy, 30-15. Being the ditz that I am, I first thought, "Hmm, what a strange...

www.tennisforum.com

 

I remember having to double blink back in 1996 when I saw the result of ‘15-40’. So random.

 

Retirement after 54 seconds at 60k Oeiras today

 

Shame there's no video!