Prozorova: I was fit to play




Tatiana Prozorova’s dream run at the Singapore Open came to an abrupt end after the Russian withdrew from her scheduled semifinal against Talia Gibson following a facial injury sustained in the doubles event.
The world No. 180 stunned 18th-ranked Filipino sensation Alex Eala in the second round of the prestigious Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 500 tournament, then reached her first tour-level semifinal.
But Prozorova was struck in the face by a smash during her doubles quarterfinal with Sofya Lansere against Miyu Kato and Ellen Perez on Friday night.
Play was halted as the Russian received medical attention before she and Lansere retired from the match.
The Singapore Open later announced that Prozorova’s semifinal against Gibson would not be played, with the Australian advancing to the final via walkover.
Prozorova, however, claimed she wanted to compete and was pressured into withdrawing.
“Unfortunately, organizers withdrew me from my semifinal match… The physio pressured me, implying I can’t make my own decisions… considering I was perfectly fine,” Prozorova said in an Instagram Story.
The 22-year-old said she felt fine a couple of hours after the doubles incident but claimed the physiotherapist determined that she could no longer continue in the singles competition.