Australian Open 2024: Linda Noskova hugs teary-eyed Elina Svitolina after Ukraine star retires due to injury

Australian Open 2024: Linda Noskova hugs teary-eyed Elina Svitolina after Ukraine star retires due to injury

Elina Svitolina was devastated after she had to retire midway from her Australian Open 2024 women’s singles fourth-round match against the Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova.

In the first set of her match against the 19-year-old Noskova, Svitolina asked for a medical timeout, and she received treatment from her physiotherapist. However, the star from Ukraine failed to carry and walked off. The scoreline read 0-3 against her when he gave up the ghost.

She had tears in her eyes as she soaked in the applause from the capacity crowd present at the Margaret Court Arena. Noskova, who earlier knocked World No.1 Iga Swiatek out of the competition in the third round, went up to Svitolina to console her opponent and give her a warm hug.

Noskova will next be up against another Ukrainian, Dayana Yastremska, who has shown Marketa Vondrousova and Victoria Azarenka out of the competition.

Prior to her match against Noskova, Svitolina dominated throughout as she did not drop a single set against Taylah Preston, Viktoriya Tomova and Viktorija Golubic.

After the match, the 29-year-old Svitolina said that it became impossible for her to continue after she ‘locked’ her back.

“I got a spasm, or I don’t know exactly what it is, but like shooting pain in the first game, the last two points. Yeah, couldn’t do anything. Completely locked my back. Just very sad, of course, so yeah,” Svitolina said in the post-match press conference.

Svitolina, who made her return to the court last year, after becoming a mother, said that one shouldn’t undermine players outside the top 10

“Everyone is strong. Everyone is playing great tennis. If they beat top 10 or if they beat some good players on the way to quarterfinals, semifinal, or the final, that means they are meant to be there,” she added.

Also Read | Australian Open 2024, Day 10, Order of Play: Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic to kick off quarterfinals