628CD7E9-B865-4942-A49B-2DCB2A0C5E6D
By Richard Pagliaro
© Howie Burnett
Tony Chang/Chang Photography
(September 1, 2010) On-court temperatures soared to 104 degrees and the the court claimed a casualty in frightening fashion today. Victoria Azarenka was trailing Gisela Dulko 5-1 in the US Open second round when she collapsed to the court behind the baseline. Azarenka retired from the match, was taken to a local hospital and diagnosed with a mild concussion.
The 10th-seeded Belarusian said she fell running sprints before the match, hit her arm and head and felt dizzy on court.
“I was warming up in the gym prior to my match against Gisela Dulko when I fell while running a sprint," Azarenka said in a statement. "I fell forward and hit my arm and head. 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."
Though Azarenka seemed to be suffering from the heat as well, US Open Tournament Referee Brian Earley said "this does not seem to be primarily a heat-related illness."
As trainers treated the fallen Belarusian, Dulko trotted over with an ice pack to try to aid her ailing opponent, who was force to retire.
"Victoria Azarenka retired from her match with headache-like symptoms. She was taken to a nearby hospital for diagnostic testing," Tournament Referee Earley said in a statement. "Out of respect to her privacy, we can not give any more details. Howeve,r we can say that this does not seem to be primarily a heat-related illness."
Azarenka beat Maria Sharapova to win the Stanford title and was regarded as a a contender in the third quarter of the draw that features third-seeded Venus Williams and French Open champion Francesca Schiavone.
Dulko said she noticed Azarenka begin to slow her pace of play in the fourth game.
"It was really hot and hard conditions. I start to feel at 3-1 she started to take more time for serving," Dulko said. "When that happened and she fell on the floor, I was feeling terrible. It's not nice to be in that situation. I just crossed the net and take some ice to her because I did not know what to do actually. I hope she is feeling good soon."
Fortunately, Azarenka did not hit her head on the hard court when she collapsed. A wheel chair was brought out onto court to help Azarenka off.
World No. 41 Dulko is accustomed to training in hot conditions in her hometown of Buenos Aires, but said she felt the heat during a pre-US Open practice session here.
"I'm used to this kind of weather, but the first day when I got here I was feeling dizzy as well," said Dulko, who reached the Flushing Meadows fourth round last year in what was her best US Open result. "It's hard to play in these kind of conditions today. I am much better off because I get used to it. In Argentina, it's hot as well."
Dulko and partner Flavia Pennetta are the top seeds in the doubles draw. She will face Anastasia Pavlyunchenkova, a fast-rising, hard-hitting young Russian, for a spot in the fourth round. The 20th-seeded Pavlyunchenkova pounded out a 6-2, 6-4 win over Sania Mirza.
The Dulko-Pavlyunchenkova match pits the slender Argentine's assortment of speeds and spins against Pavlyunchenkova's power.
"She is playing some unbelievable tennis," Dulko said. "She's a young girl, who hits the ball hard so it should be a good match."