Sick Serena Williams helped from court in Wuhan
World No 1 has her temperature and blood pressure checked as she retires ill during her second-round match against France's Alize Cornet
Top seed Serena Williams had to be helped from the court as she retired ill during her first set at the inaugural Wuhan Open in China on Tuesday.
The world number one had her temperature and blood pressure checked before retiring while 6-5 up against France’s Alize Cornet, after just over an hour on court.
It brought an abrupt end to Williams’ first match since she won her 18th grand slam title at the US Open in New York two weeks ago.
I’m sorry to all the fans in Wuhan that I had to retire from my match against Alize today. I felt dizzy and nauseous in the first set and unfortunately couldn’t continue
The incident is another blow for the Wuhan Open after poster girl and hometown hero Li Na quit tennis on the eve of the tournament.
“I’m sorry to all the fans in Wuhan that I had to retire from my match against Alize today,” she said later. “I felt dizzy and nauseous in the first set and unfortunately couldn’t continue.
“The tournament organisers have done an amazing job preparing the facilities for this year’s event and I really hope to come back to the Wuhan Open in 2015.”
The retirement meant France’s Cornet, who beat Williams at Dubai and Wimbledon, becomes the first player to win three matches against her in a season since Justine Henin in 2007.