Tennis shocked by teen’s scary Wimbledon exit after medical drama

Teen sensation Emma Raducanu worried the tennis world when she suffered a medical episode that forced the 18-year-old to quit Wimbledon.

Ajla Tomljanovic has progressed to the quarter-finals of a grand slam for the first time after British teenager Emma Raducanu retired for medical reasons in the second set of their round of 16 clash on Tuesday morning.

Tomljanovic won the first set 6-4 and was up 3-0 in the second when her 18-year-old opponent called for a trainer at the change of ends. She appeared to be having trouble breathing and was clutching at her stomach.

The medico told her: “Nice slow breaths, that’s it.

“Take deep breaths, you can do it, you’re OK.”

The teenager was clearly in a lot of discomfort and left the court with the trainer to receive medical attention. However, she never returned and was forced to retire.

It means Tomljanovic will play fellow Australian Ash Barty for a spot in the semi-finals, after the Queenslander beat Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets earlier in the day.

There were worrying signs on Court 1.

She appeared to be having trouble breathing. Picture: Ben Stansall/AFP

Raducanu was clearly struggling. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images).

Tomljanovic said during her on-court interview she was “shocked” at the way the match ended, and hopes Raducanu is OK.

“I am really kind of shocked. Emma must be really hurt being a Brit playing at home,” said Tomljanovic.

“I am really sorry but it’s sport, it happens, I am really wishing her all the best.

“I’m kind of shocked. I’m really sorry for her. I wish we could have finished it. It’s sport, it happens. I wish her all the best,” she said.

Australian tennis great Rennae Stubbs tweeted: “That was tough watch Emma Raducanu in obvious distress. I hope she will recover from this, because she’s a great young player. Just proves how tough this sport and the expectations are on these young players.”

Tennis reporter Luca Jacobs wrote: “Just want to say: Give her time and space! This is very sad.”

Raducanu’s worried family watched on from the stands as she left the court to be treated.

Everyone is wishing Emma Raducanu all the best.

Renee Raducanu (middle), Emma’s mother, was watching her daughter’s match from the stands.

Raducanu had two break points on Tomljanovic’s serve at 4-4 in the first set in a game that lasted eight minutes but the Australian saved them both and held.

Tomljanovic took the Brit to deuce and as the game edged towards the nine-minute mark she broke her and took the set as Raducanu sent a forehand long.

Tomljanovic carried the momentum into the second set and with Raducanu showing clear signs of distress, she broke the English star to go 2-0 up.

Raducanu saw two break points come and go on the Australian’s serve at 0-2 — her holding prompted her boyfriend Matteo Berrettini to grab the railing in front of him and shake it in a mix of relief and celebration.

Tomljanovic is looking forward to facing Barty in the quarters.

“It did not really sink in that I am in the quarter-finals given the circumstances,” said Tomljanovic.

“But two Aussies playing each other and one to go through to the last four is great.

“I am thrilled to play Ashleigh and hope it will be a great match.”

Meanwhile, everyone in Britain has fallen in love with Raducanu. She played her first match on the main WTA Tour just four weeks ago and went into Wimbledon as the lowest-ranked British player, earning a last-minute wildcard entry into the main draw of a grand slam for the first time.

But incredibly, she entered the tournament’s second week as the only remaining Brit. After defeating Czech star Marketa Vondrousova 6-2 6-4 on Friday, Raducanu became the youngest British woman to reach the third round of Wimbledon since Elena Baltacha achieved the feat in 2002.

But the best was yet to come, with the teen toppling Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in straight sets to become the youngest British woman to reach the last 16 since Christine Truman in 1959.

Raducanu was No. 338 on the WTA rankings ahead of her maiden major tournament, but has shot up into the top 200.

Before Wimbledon, she had never faced a top 100 opponent.

With AFP