Distressing scenes at the Australian Open as Andrea Petkovic collapses

A German star twice collapsed to the court at the Australian Open before being unable to move in horrifying scenes at Melbourne Park.

Andrea Petkovic was unable to continue.

German star Andrea Petkovic has been forced to retire from her clash with Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu after collapsing while up a set in their first round Australian Open clash.

The former top 10 star collapsed behind the baseline after she struggled with a forehand return while ahead 7-6 3-4 (30-30) on Court 5.

Channel 9 cameras captured the moment Petkovic’s arm appeared to lock in place over her head while following through on a looping forehand as she slowly collapsed to her knees.

She then leaned forward and appeared to be sucking in deep breaths while facing the floor on her hands and knees.

The 31-year-old then rolled onto her back and flopped onto the surface as first the chair umpire and then court officials came to her aid.

She tried to get back to her feet, but again slumped to the deck to lie on her back.

After a period of several minutes, medical staff were able to check Petkovic’s pulse and blood pressure.

Petkovic eventually managed return to her feet and walk back to her chair but she was unable to play another point.

Distressing scenes on court 5 as Andrea Petkovic goes down. #9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/26z0qgythJ

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 14, 2019

German media has reported she was only able to stay upright when recovering in her courtside chair because she was aided by medical staff keeping her stable.

The match was officially abandoned with her retirement, allowing Irina-Camelia Begu to progress to the second round.

When eventually able to stand, Petkovic embraced her opponent and walked off the court but was in a “disoriented” state — according to courtside reporters.

Petkovic tried to get up, could not, and laid back on the ground once more. She eventually was able to walk to her chair, but retired before playing another point.

Begu advances 6-7(3), 4-3, due to Petkovic's illness. #AusOpen

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 14, 2019

Really feel for Andrea Petkovic, who looked disorientated and wobbly on her feet as she retired against Begu.

Didn’t say much and looked in another world as she walked off the court. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ozcLX8N2TI

— Jedd Zetzer (@JeddZetzer) January 14, 2019

Speaking about the incident later on Monday night, Petkovic said: “It was heat-related. I had the flu last week.

“Probably my body was just weak and it was more just to exhaustion and the temperature.

“But I was cleared by the doctor (to play), I felt fine today, maybe a little weak … I couldn’t work as hard this last week as I wanted to.

“But generally I felt fine and then I felt a little bit in the beginning of the second set my coordination was going off a little bit ... with dehydration and the heat, I just hit the wall.

“Today I was really tough and really trying my best as much as I could and I literally left it all out on there and tried my best for as long as I could.

“Unfortunately I hit the wall at one point but I was really proud of myself that I battled through some adversity in the past days.”

Petkovic’s collapse was far from the only distressing moment at Melbourne Park on day one of the Open.

English star Heather Watson said she battled a nightmare mix of anxiety and heat distress in her first round loss.

She needed medical attention before becoming the first Brit to crash out of the women’s and men’s singles draw as she lost 6-1 6-2 to Croatian No. 31 seed Petra Martic on Court 14.

“I felt faint and a bit dizzy on court. It’s not the first time it has happened. It happens quite a lot, especially in these conditions and when it’s high stress,” Watson said.

“I cannot continue like this. Tennis is lots of ups and downs. At the moment it’s not clicking. I didn’t enjoy that.”