Farce at the Australian Open as tennis star COLLAPSES after choking on bushfire smoke – before Maria Sharapova’s game is called off
- Slovenian player Dalila Jakupovic suffered a coughing fit on the court Tuesday
- The 28-year-old had been up against Swiss Stefanie Voegele at Melbourne Park
- The medical episode forced her to withdraw from the Open qualifying match
- Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, 25, was also treated for a ‘sore chest’
An Australian Open tennis hopeful has suffered a coughing fit on the court, hours after the qualifying match had been delayed due to thick bushfire smoke.
Slovenian player Dalila Jakupovic was leading her round match against Switzerland’s Stefanie Voegele at Melbourne Park on Tuesday when she collapsed to her knees in a coughing fit.
The 28-year-old had been a set up and one point away from a tiebreak in the second set when she suffered breathing difficulties and had to withdraw from the match.
Moments later, Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, 25, had to take a medical timeout after complaining about a ‘sore chest’, 9News reported.
She later returned to the court to resume the final set of the match.
Organisers were earlier forced to delay the start of the qualifying tournament and suspend practice after hazardous smoke from Victoria’s bushfires blanketed the city.
Slovenian player Dalila Jakupovic collapsed on the court mid-match on Tuesday after suffering a coughing fit
The 28-year-old had been a set up and one point away from a tiebreak in the second set when she suffered breathing difficulties and had to withdraw from the match
Play eventually got underway at 11am – an hour later than scheduled – after the city’s air was the worst quality in the world overnight because of the bushfires in the state’s east.
It’s an obvious concern with the world’s eyes set to be glued on Melbourne during the two-week championship from Monday.
Thousands of international visitors and Australian tennis fans will also throng to the precinct.
Health authorities expect the air quality to bounce between the ‘very poor to hazardous range’ until at least Wednesday night.
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley said when it became obvious smoke could have an impact, officials had to act for the welfare of all involved – players, fans and staff.
The first day of qualifying was delayed and practice suspended as Melbourne’s air quality ranged from hazardous to poor on Tuesday morning
A general view of Rod Laver Arena with the city shrouded in smoke in the background ahead of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park
TA says it will work with their medical team, the Bureau of Meterology and Environment Protection Authority Victoria scientists when making decisions about whether it’s healthy to play.
‘This is a new experience for all of us in how we manage air quality, so we have to listen to the experts,’ Tiley said.
‘We have now real time raw data that we can collect – we have installed measuring devices on-site for air quality.’
TA chief operating officer Tom Larner said any smoke stoppages would be treated in the same way as an extreme heat or rain delay.
‘We will stop if conditions become unsafe based on medical advice,’ he said.
Novak Djokovic spoke out about the situation last week, saying organisers will be forced to create new rules to deal with smoke.
‘People from my team have spoken to Craig Tiley. They are obviously tracking the situation every day as it is evolving,’ Djokovic, who is also the ATP Player Council president, said.
Twenty-two Australians are taking part in Open qualifying, including former world No.17 Bernard Tomic.