Related News
When even watching tennis is a dangerous game
Online Edition
Playing tennis carries its risks but at this year's Australian Open, watching has been even more dangerous after a series of medical emergencies in the opening few days.
Several players were struggling with injury in the build-up to the season's first Grand Slam, but so far it's the spectators and ball kids who have had more problems in Melbourne.
On Thursday, Ana Ivanovic was shaken after an elderly fan was badly hurt in a fall on some steps in Rod Laver Arena, in worrying scenes which held up play for 30 minutes.
"I was really shaking, because the sound of the lady falling was really loud. I could hear it," said the former world number one, who looked on anxiously before the spectator was finally stretchered away.
The incident came after Bernard Tomic was left fearing for a spectator's life after she suffered a seizure during his first-round match against Denis Istomin.
In dramatic scenes, an anti-allergy shot was quickly passed through the crowd and eventually the patron was taken out of the venue, with the worst of the danger past.
Tomic said it was difficult to know how to react as a player, watching somebody in clear danger but also then having to refocus on one of the biggest matches of the season.
"Potentially someone's dying and we're not sure what's going on. You know, we had 15 minutes' gap between that service game then only to play one point," he said afterwards.
"You know, at one stage I was looking directly at the lady. It was not a good moment to be in for me. I felt very, very sad. I really hope she's okay."
French former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also showed his caring side when he assisted a dazed and tearful ball girl after she had been struck in the face with a ball.
Realising the girl was in trouble, the Frenchman took her by the arm, took the balls from her hand and led her from the court -- an act of kindness which drew warm applause.
"I saw she was in trouble," the modest Tsonga said later. "It was normal to help her out of the stadium. I hope she's okay.
"To be honest I didn't do anything special."
It mirrored a situation earlier in the tournament, when Spain's Carla Suarez spotted a ball boy swooning in the intense heat, and led him from the court, again to applause.
Perversely, injuries to players have been relatively few, although Argentina's Diego Schwartzman also fell victim to the heat when he was stretchered away from his opening match with severe cramps.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
