EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND // Janko Tipsarevic may miss Wimbledon after slipping and injuring his groin during the Eastbourne final.
Unseeded Andreas Seppi won his first career title after the Serbian was forced to retire while trailing 7-6, 3-6, 5-3. Seppi is the first Italian to win an ATP title since Filippo Volandri won in Palermo in 2006.
Tipsarevic, who is seeded 23rd at Wimbledon, was injured in the third set when down 3-4, 0-30 on serve, after repeatedly arguing with officials about the fading light.
After lengthy treatment, he dropped his serve to fall behind 5-3 and retired after Seppi won the first point of the next game.
"I'm taking an ultrasound now but it doesn't look good," Tipsarevic said. "I know matches are played here until late, but that is the case when there are no clouds and you have enough light.
"It's an absolute disgrace. ... what happened today. At 4-3, 15-all or love-30 when I slipped, I asked the chair umpire or the referee, 'What else needs to happen for you to postpone this match?' And he was just quiet. He was just repeating like a parrot that we have enough light, we have enough light."
Tipsarevic and Seppi both played their semi-finals earlier yesterday, after rain washed out Friday's schedule.
In the final, Tipsarevic protested about fading light after the first game of the third set, and then dropped serve to fall behind 2-0. He continued to complain as he lost the next two games, before rain forced the players from the court. When play resumed Tipsarevic won the next three games before he fell.