Ukrainian tennis player Oleksandra Oliinykova, who competed in the WTA 125 series tournament in Suzhou, China, as the top seed, was forced to end her run in the second round of the competition prematurely. Oliinykova had a confident start, opening the tournament with a convincing 6:0, 6:4 victory over China's Zheng Wushuang.
The dramatic course of the match
The second-round match against Belarusian tennis player Alena Falei, who plays under a neutral status, began promisingly for the top seed. Oliinykova confidently grabbed a 3:0 lead in the first set, but could not maintain the pace. The fate of the set was decided in a tie-break, where the Ukrainian failed to convert a set point, leading to a 6:7 loss in the set.
Medical staff intervention
In the second set, the situation became noticeably more difficult for Oleksandra: the opponent took the initiative and won four games in a row. Trailing 0:4 against Falei, Oliinykova called for a doctor on court. After a lengthy consultation with the medical specialist and assessing her physical condition, the Ukrainian athlete made the difficult decision to withdraw from the match, concluding her participation in the tournament.
Consequences for the tournament draw
Despite Oliinykova's exit, Ukraine continues to be represented in the Suzhou tournament draw. Katarina Zavatska, who replaced Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in the main draw as a 'lucky loser', successfully entered the fray. Zavatska confidently advanced to the second round by beating Darya Khomutianska (6:4, 6:4), and will face Mexico's Renata Zarazua in the next round.
