Russia’s rising tennis star Tatiana Prozorova, 22, announced her withdrawal from the Singapore Open semi‑final after what she described as undue pressure from a WTA physiotherapist. The physiotherapist had diagnosed her with a concussion after she was struck in the face by a ball during her quarter‑final doubles match.
Details of the incident
Prozorova and her doubles partner Sofya Lansere retired from their quarter‑final match on Friday when Prozorova was hit in the face. Following the injury, the tournament’s medical team called her to the court and insisted she undergo a specific concussion test. In a post on social media, Prozorova wrote, “The physio called to the court insisted on taking me off‑court to run a specific test. Unfortunately I didn’t know I could refuse.”
She added that the test was physically demanding, noting she had spent “over three hours on court each of the last three days” and was fatigued. One of the exercises required her to stand on one leg with her eyes closed, which she found especially challenging.
Prozorova’s response and tournament outcome
Prozorova said her team discussed the situation with tournament officials, but the physiotherapist continued to press, even claiming she “wasn’t capable of taking responsibility for my own life.” She asserted that tournament organisers supported her desire to keep playing, but the final decision rested with the WTA.
As a result of her withdrawal, Australia’s Talia Gibson advanced to the final by walkover. The Russian’s run to the semi‑final represented a career‑best performance, including a quarter‑final victory over China’s Wang Xinyu and earlier three‑set wins over Alexandra Eala and Sofia Costoulas.
Potential impact on future events
Prozorova warned that the incident could jeopardise her participation in next week’s China Open, a key tournament on the WTA calendar. She emphasized the need for clear protocols that respect players’ autonomy while ensuring safety.
Reuters has reached out to the WTA for comment on the physiotherapist’s actions and the broader handling of concussion assessments in professional tennis.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
