'Sad to see': Tennis fans stunned by 'awful' scenes at US Open
Tennis fans were left gutted at the US Open on Tuesday when young gun Sebastian Korda was forced to retire hurt in his opening round clash.
The American was down a set and 1-2 against Nikoloz Basilashvili when he called it quits.
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Korda had called for the trainer and complained that he was feeling ill, at one stage asking for a bucket so he could throw up.
His agent later confirmed his retirement was due to stomach issues.
It's a bitter blow for Korda after he opted to skip the recent Olympics to focus on the US Open.
The 21-year-old was tipped as a dark horse to make the quarter-finals at his home grand slam.
"Rough break for Korda, especially after skipping out on the Olympics to focus on his prep for this US Open," wrote American journalist Ben Rothenberg.
Sebastian Korda retired down 2-6, 1-2 to Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Rough break for Korda, especially after skipping out on the Olympics to focus on his prep for this #USOpen.— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 31, 2021
He’s up to like -250. Korda looks awful though.
— sydney fife (@moneylinechad) August 31, 2021
Just arrived on Court 5, where Seb Korda was hunched over between points. At the changeover, he had a quick chat with an ATP trainer and retired thereafter. Told by fans that at one point he asked for a bucket. pic.twitter.com/ib3X8bzxKJ
— Gill Gross 🗽 (@Gill_Gross) August 31, 2021
@TennisPodcast must be pretty bad out there if Seb Korda is asking for an empty bucket during the change-over.
— Antoinette Meijer (@Netje1973) August 31, 2021
Korda’s retirement may have been due to GI issues. What a shame. He gets injured or sick too often. His physical durability is his main barrier to the top 20 at this point. https://t.co/s4y3syeVD5
— Scriabina (@drschumann1) August 31, 2021
Korda retired from an Injury so we push… sad part was this was looking so good. (-155) +/-0U https://t.co/8PMqQIcNvs
— ATPicks (@ATPicks247) August 31, 2021
Alexander Zverev continues hot form at US Open
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev has extended his winning streak to 12 matches after ousting Sam Querrey and moving into the second round.
The fourth seed proved too good for the American in the comfortable 6-4 7-5 6-2 opening victory.
The German is considered a major threat to top seed Novak Djokovic - who is hoping to complete a calendar year grand slam at New York - after upsetting the Serbian at the Tokyo Games.
Zverev derailed Djokovic's hopes to become the first man to win a golden slam - all four grand slams and the Olympic title in the same year - when he overcame the world No.1 on his way to winning Tokyo gold.
Zverev - who lost the 2020 US Open final to Dominic Thiem - followed up his Olympic victory by continuing his winning ways, claiming the recent hard-court title at Cincinnati.
"Novak is chasing history," said Zverev.
"But I think the guys are going to try and get in the way of that and I'm looking forward to maybe giving him a challenge as well.
"I hope in two weeks' time I'll be on an 18-match winning streak."
Meanwhile, Canadian seventh seed Denis Shapovalov breezed past Federico Delbonis 6-2 6-2 6-3 in a battle of the left-handers, ending a four-match losing streak since his quarter-final victory over Karen Khachanov at Wimbledon.
Russian 25th seed Khachanov was upset by South African Lloyd Harris 6-4 1-6 4-6 6-3 6-2 on Tuesday.
American 22nd seed Reilly Opelka, a finalist at the Canadian Open earlier this month, hit 33 aces past South Korea's Soonwoo Kwon to claim a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-4 victory.
And Belgian 27th seed David Goffin lost 6-2 7-5 6-3 to American world No.30 Mackenzie McDonald.
with AAP
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