Overview
- Ekaterina Alexandrova, the tournament top seed and world No. 19, collapsed in the third set of a more-than-three-hour first-round match and could not continue while trailing 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 5-4.
- Temperatures were reported near 34°C and play was paused for lengthy on-court medical treatment before officials issued a time violation as Alexandrova struggled to serve.
- Alexandrova fell to the ground during the next point, received immediate care, was helped off the court with reports of a wheelchair being used, and retired from the match.
- Sixteen-year-old Kristina Liutova was awarded the win in her WTA main-draw debut and will face Maya Joint in the next round; cameras captured Liutova in tears after the match.
- Media outlets contacted the WTA for comment but no official statement was published, and the episode has prompted renewed questions about how tournaments apply heat and player-safety protocols during extreme conditions.