Alexandrova collapses on court in WTA Tour match
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- Ekaterina Alexandrova collapsed on court in the third set of her WTA Tour match against Kristina Liutova at the Memphis Tennis Classic, where temperatures reached 34°C over the three-hour contest.
- The world No 19 and top seed was 5-4 down in the third set when play was halted for lengthy treatment, and she was ultimately forced to retire.
- Kristina Liutova, 16, was handed victory in her WTA Tour debut and was seen in tears at the conclusion of the match.
- Liutova advances to face American Maya Joint in the Round of 16.
- The WTA has been contacted by Sky Sports News for comment on the incident.
Why it matters: A top-seeded world No 19 retiring mid-match after collapsing in 34°C heat during a three-hour outdoor contest raises player-safety concerns for the WTA Tour. The result directly handed a debut WTA victory to 16-year-old Liutova, whose reaction — tears at the conclusion — reflected the unusual circumstances of the win.
