Ekaterina Alexandrova collapsed on the court before retiring from her match against Kristina Liutova at the Memphis Classic due to heat-related illness.
Alexandrova, the tournament’s No 1 seed, was two points away from defeat to the 16-year-old Liutova, who was making her WTA Tour debut. The temperature was around 97F (36C) in Tennessee as the two Russians played out a gruelling first-round match lasting more than three hours.
With Liutova leading 7-6 (2), 4-6, 5-4, Alexandrova began to struggle on serve, and initially received a time violation. The world No 19 then fell to the ground during the next point, and received treatment on court. Alexandrova was able to stand briefly but left the arena in a wheelchair. Her young opponent was left in tears after being told her opponent could not play on.
The tournament’s second seed, McCartney Kessler, also went out in the first round, suffering a 6-4, 6-1 loss to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua. The American, who is still seeking her first WTA title this year after winning two events in 2025, led 4-2 in the first set but dropped four straight games and never recovered.
Alexandrova’s withdrawal raises questions over the decision to add Memphis as a summer stop on the WTA Tour. The new WTA 250 event has replaced Cleveland on the schedule this year. It takes place across late July and early August, when average temperatures in Tennessee are around 83F (29C).
Elsewhere, Venus Williams was beaten in the first round of the Mubadala DC Open on Tuesday, suffering a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Austria’s Anastasia Potapova in Washington.
The tournament’s fifth seed, Anna Kalinskaya of Russia, defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 6-1 by converting four of her six break-point chances. Katie Boulter claimed the first set against Ashlyn Kreuger but went on to lost 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
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Poland’s Magdalena Frech beat Ann Li 6-4. 6-3 to set up a second-round match against Jessica Pegula. Tuesday’s other first-round winners were Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, Uzbekistan’s Polina Kudermetova and China’s Xinyu Wang.
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