Tennis player says she was forced to withdraw from Singapore Open after being hit in face by ball

World No. 180 Tatiana Prozorova has said she was forced to withdraw from her debut WTA Tour singles semifinal by a WTA Tour physio, after being hit in the face by a smash during a doubles match that was potentially three points from its conclusion.

Playing at the WTA 500 Singapore Open, Russia's Prozorova and compatriot Sofya Lansere were losing 7-5, 5-2, 15-15 to No. 3 seeds Ellen Perez (Australia) and Miyu Kato (Japan) when Kato inadvertently hit a regulation overhead into Prozorova's face on the full.

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The 22-year-old collapsed to the ground with her hands over her face, as Perez and Kato rushed to the other side of the court to check on her. After a short delay, Prozorova left the court for a medical timeout, before retiring from the match.

Having been scheduled to face Australia's Talia Gibson in the singles semifinals Saturday, Prozorova instead gave a walkover due to a concussion, ending the best tournament run of her career to date.

But in a statement posted to her Instagram Stories, Prozorova said that the ball from Kato "grazed my cheek and hit my shoulder," before detailing how she completed a balance exercise as part of an off-court assessment.

"The physio called to the court insisted on taking me off-court to run a specific test. Unfortunately I didn't know I could refuse.

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"The test wasn't easy. Given that I'd spent over three hours on court each of the last three days, I was fatigued, and I struggled with some of the exercises — like standing on one leg with my eyes closed. To be honest, even when I'm fresh and well-rested, I find that difficult anyway. I explained this to the physio, too.

"Of all the exercises, that was the one they weren't happy with, even though I passed all the others."

Prozorova said that the physio "pressured" her over withdrawing, before she, her team and the Singapore Open organizers continued discussions with the physio over what Prozorova called "a specific WTA protocol."

"My team and I had a long discussion with the organizers; throughout the process, the physio pressured everyone present and even claimed I wasn't capable of taking responsibility for my own life. The organizers' decision really upset me. My dream week came to an end today…"

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Prozorova called the decision an "overreach of authority" in another Instagram Story.

The WTA has been contacted for comment on Prozorova's statements.

While its 2026 Rulebook does not make specific reference to concussion protocols, it does have regulations for rulings on the "physical incapacity" of a player:

"During the match, if there is an emergency medical condition, and the player involved is unable to make a request for a (primary healthcare provider) PHCP, the Chair Umpire immediately shall call for the PHCP and Tournament Physician to assist the player.

"Either before or during a match, if a player is considered physically unable to compete, or poses a serious health risk to players, officials, or Tournament staff, the PHCP and/or Tournament Physician should inform the Supervisor and recommend that the player be ruled unable to compete in the match to be played, or retired from the match in progress.

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"The Supervisor/Referee shall use great discretion before taking this action and should base the decision on the best interests of Professional Tennis, as well as taking all medical advice and any other information into consideration."

Prozorova qualified for the 2023 U.S. Open, losing in the first round, but her previous best run at a WTA Tour event of any level was the round of 16 at the 2026 Memphis Classic and the 2023 Palermo Ladies' Open, both WTA 250 events. She has reached one WTA 125 final, but that category of tournament is not classed as a full WTA Tour event.

In Singapore, Prozorova had three times won from a set down, including wins over world No. 18 Alex Eala (her first against a top-20 player) and then world No. 40 Wang Xinyu. She and Lansere were potentially three points from exiting the doubles tournament when she was struck in the face.

Gibson, the 22-year-old world No. 63, will meet either Canada's Leylah Fernandez or Poland's Maja Chwalińska in the final.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Tennis, Women's Tennis

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