Beatriz Haddad Maia survived a brutal test against Britain’s Sonay Kartal in the first round of the US Open. Kartal forced a decider after losing the first set but it soon became apparent that she was battling a physical issue, and she dropped four games in a row.
But there was plenty of drama, as Haddad Maia suddenly started struggling physically while serving at 4-0 in the final set, and got broken. In the next game, the No. 18 seed approached retired British star Laura Robson, who was covering the match courtside for Sky Sports, and spoke to her while holding a break point.
Robson had been expecting Kartal to retire when she seemed to be dealing with cramps during the third and final set, and was seen doubling over in pain and grabbing her leg.
“I’ve just been signalling to her team and they seem to think it’s cramp, actually. She cannot load that left leg whatsoever and she’s just not even sure right now if she’s going to finish the match,” the 2012 Olympic silver medallist told viewers when Kartal went 0-4 down.
“Knowing Sonay, she’s will desperately to want to finish it but physically, is she going to be able to move at all here? Because it looks like it’s getting worse here by the point.
“Really, really tough times for her. An hour and 51 minutes, it’s a physical match, they’ve been trying so hard, but what’s left?”
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