Heartbreaking Australian Open scene as Elina Svitolina leaves court in tears

A former World No. 3 has described feeling like someone shot her in the back, after her Australian Open match came to an abrupt end.

Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has left Margaret Court Arena in tears after being forced to retire from her fourth round match with a back injury in the first set.

“I felt like someone shot me in the back,” the 19th seed told reporters after her match against Linda Noskova on Monday, which came to an abrupt end at 0-3 in the first set.

The 29-year-old said she first felt the sudden pain, which she described like a spasm, in the first game, which “completely locked” her lower back.

An emotional Elina Svitolina walks off court after retiring in the first set. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

She said she had some stiffness going into the match but described it as “quite normal” for the fourth round of the tournament.

“This one I think I never had that before, the shooting pain like this,” she explained.

“I had some injuries to my back before where it just was tiredness the next day of the match, but this one was really out of nowhere.”

She said she would have scans as soon as she flew home, and hoped it wasn't too serious.

Svitolina said she felt the sudden pain in the first game. Picture: Martin Keep / AFP

The moment she withdrew from the tournament has been described as “painful to watch” and a “tough sight”.

Aussie Alicia Molik, former world No. 8 and 2005 Australian Open women’s doubles champion, said she was sad to see Svitolina retire.

“I watched her match and I thought she was a real contender here,” she said.

Svitolina said herself she was “very sad” to retire and found the situation even more disappointing because she was in good form.

The former Women’s World. No. 3 returned to the tour in April last year, six months after the birth of her daughter Skai.

Svitolina said retiring was even more disappointing because she was in good form. Picture: Martin Keep / AFP

Svitolina and Czech teen Noskova hugged at the net before an emotional Svitolina left the court.

The 19-year-old Noskova will now play Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska in the quarterfinal, after she downed former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in straight sets on Monday.

Noskova stunned the tennis world with an incredible 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Women’s World No. 1 Iga Swiatek on Saturday.