In an unfortunate turn of events during the second round of the Miami Open, Victoria Azarenka, a three-time former champion, had to withdraw mid-match due to a sudden and unexpected injury. This shocking incident took place at the onset of the second set when Azarenka was compelled to prematurely end her match against her opponent, Karolina Muchova.
Azarenka found herself in distress, dropping her racket and crying out in pain due to what was later identified as a shoulder injury. This unexpected setback occurred while she was already down 6-0 against Muchova, the 15th seed of the tournament.
Muchova, displaying an admirable show of sportsmanship, immediately rushed to Azarenka’s aid. She helped carry Azarenka’s bags off the court, an act of kindness that underscored the respect between the two competitors despite the intensity of the tournament.
The match had begun on a challenging note for the former world No.1 Azarenka, who did not manage to score in the first set against Muchova. The Belarusian star had already been visibly struggling with physical discomfort and had called for medical assistance multiple times.
The situation deteriorated further when Muchova was serving in the first game of the second set. At a critical juncture of 40-40, Azarenka abruptly dropped her racket and retreated to the back of the court. It was here that she seemed to be in tears, a clear indication of her intense discomfort.
Medical professionals were promptly on the scene, and instead of directing Azarenka back to her bench, they provided her with a chair on the court for immediate medical attention. Muchova joined them, showing genuine concern for her opponent’s condition.
