‘Just extraordinary’: Tennis rocked in opening day cruelty

The opening day of the 2025 tennis season has begun in brutal scenes in Australia with two players left in distress.

The 2025 tennis season has begun with distressing scenes at the United Cup in Perth.

China’s opening tie against Brazil inexplicably turned into a torture session as Gao Xinyu and Beatriz Haddad Maia played out a crazy marathon match in front of stunned fans.

Xinyu was the last one left standing as she prevailed 5-7 6-4 7-5 after three hours and 22 minutes on court.

Both players needed treatment, while Haddad Maia was on several occasions hit with code violations for failing to serve inside the time clock when she was unable to stand upright to serve.

At one point in the third set, Haddad Maia was only able to serve underarm because of the strain on her body.

It was the longest women’s match in the history of the United Cup — and it showed as both players appeared to be on the brink of retirements.

In the middle of the third set, world No. 17 Haddad Maia desperately called for medical assistance when she appeared unable to move, but tournament medical staff were unable to help because the issue was only a case of severe cramping.

Gao Xinyu and Beatriz Haddad Maia both went down. Photo: Twitter.

At the other end of the court, Gao was also bent over at different points and at times was unable to chase regulation shots on the base line. She also took a medical time out in the second set and needed strapping applied to her thigh.

Aussie tennis great Paul McNamee said the contest was “just extraordinary”.

“One of the most dramatic matches I’ve ever witnessed,” the five-time doubles grand slam champ wrote on X.

“Both ladies injured or cramping, exhausted, and brave.”

Beatriz Haddad Maia couldn’t move. Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP.

Beatriz Haddad Maia had her team more than a little worried. Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images.

Veteran Aussie sport commentator David Culbert said Haddad Maia had “hit the wall”.

“She’s in a lot of trouble here, Hadad Maia,” he said on Stan.

“She’s almost frozen to the spot. Neither player can move from the spot that they’re on. She can’t move. We saw in that last game she lost her movement completely.

“It’s a bit like a marathon runner that hits the wall.”

It was a cruel moment when the chair umpire was helpless but to hand down code violations to Haddad Maia.

The 28-year-old bravely fought on and won a service game to push Gao all the way to the finish line.

China went on to win the tie 3-0 with Zhang Zhizhen winning in the men’s singles before the country also won the doubles in straight sets.

Haddad Maia will be back in action for Brazil against Germany on Sunday.

Gao Xinyu of Team China reacts to cramp. Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images.

Gao will return for China on Monday.

“I have no idea what’s going on right now,” Gao said in the on-court interview.

“My brain was empty and my whole body was cramping.”

In the earlier tie, world number six Elena Rybakina led Kazakhstan to a 2-1 defeat of Spain as the former Wimbledon champion made a winning start to the season.

The All England Club winner from 2022 clinched the opening tie of the 18-nation ATP-WTA event, which begins the 2025 year in Perth and Sydney.

Each team features three men and three women, with ties comprising one men’s and one women’s singles and an often decisive mixed-doubles clash.

Rybakina and Alexander Shevchenko produced a 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (2/7), 10-7 result over Spaniards Pablo Carreno Busta and Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers in the mixed doubles to earn the win.

Australia begins its campaign on Saturday when Alex de Minaur and Olivia Gadecki face off against Argentina in Sydney.

— with AFP

Originally published as ‘Just extraordinary’: Tennis rocked in opening day cruelty