Ekaterina Alexandrova: Russian tennis player collapses on court amid 34C heat
Russian tennis player Ekaterina Alexandrova collapsed on court during a match in Memphis due to extreme 34C heat. She was forced to retire from the match, which was eventually won by her opponent, Kristina Liutova.
Why it matters
The incident raises concerns regarding athlete safety and the impact of extreme weather conditions on professional sports schedules.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Ekaterina Alexandrova needed a wheelchair to help her off court in Memphis
World number 19 Ekaterina Alexandrova collapsed on court and had to retire from her first-round match at the Memphis Classic due to high temperatures.
Russian Alexandrova, who was the number one seed, was trailing 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 5-4 against 16-year-old compatriot Kristina Liutova in a match where temperatures reached 34C.
The match was initially paused as Alexandrova tried to continue, before she received a time violation as she took too long to serve amid her struggles.
But in the middle of the next point, Alexandrova fell to the ground and needed immediate medical attention.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in