Tennis fans at the U.S. Open were shocked Wednesday when top-ranked player Victoria Azarenka collapsed on the court during the middle of a match in the steamy New York City heat. But the temperature, more than 100 degrees on the court, wasn’t the prime culprit in her fall. She had sustained a concussion earlier in the day.
It’s not often you hear about concussions in pro tennis, but here’s what happened.
Azarenka, it turns out, had fallen and hit her head during a warm-up prior to her match. Her agent told The New York Times that Azarenka had tripped over the hem of her sweat pants.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/sports/tennis/02collapse.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
The 21-year-old Belarusian was examined by doctors, and was deemed OK to play. I’d have to question that decision. Even though it is a huge tournament for Azarenka. I would have erred on the side of caution, and kept her off the court, which was steamy hot.
Azarenka staggered and collapsed after hitting a backhand during her match. She was taken off the court in a wheelchair, treated at a Queens, N.Y., hospital and released Wednesday afternoon.
She also released a statement abut her warm-up accident, which the New York Post published.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/collapse_in_heat_shocks_us_open_mujFWIAuScuzgzJJibvOTO
“I fell forward and hit my arm and head,” Azarenka said. “I was checked by the medical team before I went on court and they were courtside for monitoring. I felt worse as the match went on, having a headache and feeling dizzy. I also started having trouble seeing and felt weak before I fell. I was taken to the hospital for some medical tests and have been diagnosed with a mild concussion.”