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World number 19 Ekaterina Alexandrova collapsed on court and had to retire from her first-round match at the Memphis Classic due to high temperatures.<\/b><\/p>\n
Russian Alexandrova, who was the number one seed, was trailing 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 5-4 against 16-year-old compatriot Kristina Liutova in a match where temperatures reached 34C. <\/p>\n
The match was initially paused as Alexandrova tried to continue, before she received a time violation as she took too long to serve amid her struggles.<\/p>\n
But in the middle of the next point, Alexandrova fell to the ground and needed immediate medical attention.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old was well enough to stand but had to forfeit the match, which had lasted more than three hours.<\/p>\n
It gave Liutova victory in her debut match on the WTA tour, but the teenager was left in tears on court amid the chaotic situation.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere in women’s tennis, Venus Williams lost in the first round of the Mubadala DC Open in Washington DC on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The 46-year-old, whose last singles win came at this event last year, was beaten 6-3 6-3 by Austria’s Anastasia Potapova.<\/p>\n
Williams won 78.4% of her first serve points but just 24.1% from her second serve, and 20% of her returns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n