Dalila Jakupovic quits Australia open after suffering coughing fit amid bushfire smoke
- Dalila Jakupovic said she felt scared and couldn’t continue with the match
- This is despite needing just one point to take the second set to a tie break
- A Kooyong Classic game featuring Maria Sharapova has also been called off early
Slovenian tennis player, Dalila Jakupovic, dropped out of the Australia open after severely succumbing to smoke from the ongoing bushfires in the country.
Jakupovic dropped out part way through her match with Stefanie Voegele as poor air quality caused her to have a severe coughing fit in the middle of her set.
The game which was to be played at Melbourne Park was delayed for an hour due to the presence of a “blanket of smoke”.
Once the game was underway, Jakupovic had her head in the lead as she took the first set 6-4, needing just one point to take the second set to a tie break against her opponents.
Unfortunately, her coughing fit meant she needed urgent medical attention and she was helped out of the court by officials and victory was ultimately handed to her Swiss opponent.
Speaking after the match, Jakupovic strongly refuted claims she had any lung-related issues as she blamed her brief health woe on the condition of the environment in Australia.
According to the 28-year old, at the time she was really concerned for her health.
“I don't have asthma and never had breathing problems. I actually like heat. The physio came again and I thought it would be better," Jakupovic said.
"But the points were a bit longer and I just couldn't breathe anymore and I just fell on the floor." She narrated.
She would have tried to go on playing had the points not been a bit longer.
Jakupovic’s retirement from the match came amid concerns over massive air pollution brought about by the Australian bushfires
On Tuesday morning, an exhibition match of the Australian open featuring tennis sweetheart Maria Sharapova had to be abandoned towards the end of the second set.
Sharapova and Germany's Laura Siegemund had the scores at five all when the match was called off.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that American tennis superstar, Serena Williams, broke a three-year deadlock and won her first major trophy since becoming a mom on Saturday night, January 12, with a resounding victory over Jessica Pegula in New Zealand.
The mother of one, 38, proved critics wrong after winning the Auckland Open in historical style, beating her fellow American 6-3, 6-4.
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Source: Legit.ng
