'What's going on': Tennis world stunned after Miami Open carnage
The tennis world has reacted with shock after both favourites Paula Badosa and Jannik Sinner retired from their Miami Open quarter-finals during the day session.
Soon to be World No.3, Badosa was in tears as she was forced to bow out of the quarter-final after not feeling well against American Jessica Pegula.
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On Monday, Badosa admitted she wasn't sure if she could compete in her fourth round match that she subsequently won.
However, the Spaniard was in obvious discomfort when she retired sick at 4-1 in unfortunate circumstances for the in-form star.
On the men's side of the draw, Italian phenom Sinner was also forced to retire against World No.103 Francisco Cerundolo.
Right after an impressive display to defeat Aussie Nick Kyrgios in the Fourth Round, Sinner was in pain due to blisters on his foot.
Cerundolo admitted it was 'strange' seeing his friend hardly walking on the other side of the court.
"I didn't know anything," Cerundolo said in his on-court interview.
"When I was serving at 3-1, 30-0, I saw him bending down. It was really strange.
"I didn't see anything wrong and I hope he is OK, he is a great player."
Tennis world reacts to bizarre retirement drama
With both Badosa and Sinner retiring in the first set, ticket holders for the Stadium seats didn't witness a full set for the day session.
In total, there has been 15 withdrawals/retirements during the Miami Open.
Fans were left shocked at the double retirement from two stars in a bizarre day of tennis.
A turn of events.
Jannik Sinner was forced to retire due to foot blisters. @FranCerundolo was leading 4-1 in the first set when Sinner called the match after 23 minutes.
Get well soon! @janniksin @MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/UC1zguVNaE— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 30, 2022
Such a shame for Paula Badosa 🇪🇸 having to retire in tears after just 5 games... She wasn’t feeling well in her last match and her physical problems seem to have worsened today.
Jessica Pegula 🇺🇸 advances to the SF, 4-1.
Recupérate pronto @paulabadosa#MiamiOpen #WTA #Tennis pic.twitter.com/xuuREIPd6H— First Serve Tennis (@FirstServeTnnis) March 30, 2022
I'd be PISSED if I had Stadium seats today. Both Badosa and Sinner retire down 1-4 in the first sets. Day session is OVER without a single set of tennis completed. No refunds. #MiamiOpen
— Eric (@PaxAttack300) March 30, 2022
Wait, Sinner and Bedosa retire today??? #MiamiOpen
— Deke Lloyd (@dekelloyd) March 30, 2022
Sinner and Badosa both retire in first set… wtf is going on 🤯🤯🤯
— Betting B🤑 (@BettingBLock) March 30, 2022
What in the world is going on at @MiamiOpen with Men’s and women’s singles?? First Badosa retiring, now Sinner? Devastating 🥺
— Jessyca Tingue (@jessrtingue) March 30, 2022
I want to dedicate a minute of silence in honor of the people that bought tickets for day session of QF just to get:
🇺🇸Pegula d. 🇪🇦Badosa 4-1 ret.
🇦🇷Cerúndolo d. 🇮🇹Sinner 4-1 ret.
🙏🏻— Juan Ignacio (not just Juan) (@jiastaburuagac) March 30, 2022
Add #Badosa and #Sinner. This is not normal in one tournament. What is going on @MiamiOpen? pic.twitter.com/WmkS9WcNtU
— Holly Poinsett (@hpoinsett) March 30, 2022
Badosa — who was World No.71 in the rankings at this time last year — will climb to a career-best World No.3 when the computer numbers are updated on Monday.
Cerundolo, 23, who reached his maiden tour-level the final in Buenos Aires last year, has enjoyed a strong 2022 campaign, winning an ATP Challenger Tour title on clay before soaring into the semi-finals in Rio de Janeiro.
Pegula has spent just three hours and 22 minutes on court in her four matches and will next face Iga Swiatek — who will replace the retired Ash Barty as the new World No.1 on Monday — or Petra Kvitova.
with AAP
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