Singapore Tennis Open semi-finalist says she was forced to pull out after being hit in face by ball

Russia's Tatiana Prozorova in action at the Singapore Tennis Open on Sept 25.

Published Sep 26, 2026, 10:30 AM

Updated Sep 26, 2026, 12:05 PM

SINGAPORE – Just hours after surviving a marathon match to reach the semi-finals of the Singapore Tennis Open presented by BNP Paribas, Tatiana Prozorova has become the latest player to pull out of the tournament.

In an Instagram post at around 11pm on Sept 25, organisers said the Russian “has withdrawn from her singles semi-final due to injury”. The last-four clash was scheduled to take place on Sept 26.

Organisers added that Australia’s Talia Gibson will now advance to the final by walkover, where she will face either Canada’s Leylah Fernandez or Maja Chwalinska of Poland.

Prozorova claimed on Instagram that she had been “pressured” to withdraw by a WTA Tour physiotherapist after she was struck in the face by a smash during a doubles match on Sept 26, and called the decision an “overreach of authority”.

The Russian paired up with compatriot Sofya Lansere in the women’s doubles quarter-finals against Miyu Kato and Ellen Perez on Sept 26, but Prozorova and her partner had to retire while trailing 7-5, 5-2 after she was hit in the face by a ball.

She posted on her Instagram Stories: “My team and I had a long discussion with the organisers; throughout the process, the physio pressured everyone present and even claimed I wasn’t capable of taking responsibility for my own life. “The organisers’ decision really upset me. My dream week came to an end today.”

She later clarified in another Instagram story that “the organisers fought for my right to continue competing in the tournament, but ultimately, the decision was made by the WTA”.

The world No. 180’s Singapore Tennis Open last-four run was the best tournament performance of the 22-year-old’s career so far.

The Straits Times has contacted the WTA and Singapore Tennis Open for more information on Prozorova’s remarks.

The WTA 2026 Rulebook says: “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.

“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.”

On Sept 25, Prozorova battled through her third marathon match, taking 181 minutes to overcome China’s Wang Xinyu 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the quarter-finals.

On Sept 24, Prozorova beat Philippine sensation Alexandra Eala in 189 minutes and also endured a 2hr 51min three-set battle against Sofia Costoulas on Sept 22.

The WTA 500 event had also been hit with the withdrawals of second seed Amanda Anisimova and two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova earlier in the week.

Their withdrawals follow that of world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, who pulled out on Sept 16.

Some commenters on Singapore Tennis Open’s post announcing Prozorova’s withdrawal appeared to be seeking refunds but were unsure if they were entitled to one.

One said: “Got the tickets for the SF 1st session but there is no Singles SF since one player withdrawal, what should I do with my tickets???”

However, another replied: “You can refund it, e-mails sent last night.”

Sports and recreation

9月25日，俄罗斯选手塔季扬娜·普罗佐罗娃在新加坡网球公开赛上比赛。

发布于2026年9月26日上午10:30

更新于2026年9月26日下午12:05

新加坡——在经历了一场马拉松式的比赛，晋级由法国巴黎银行赞助的新加坡网球公开赛半决赛仅仅几个小时后，塔蒂亚娜·普罗佐罗娃就成为最新一位退出该项赛事的球员。

9月25日晚11点左右，赛事组织方在Instagram上发布消息称，这位俄罗斯选手“因伤退出了单打半决赛”。这场半决赛原定于9月26日举行。

组织者补充说，澳大利亚选手塔利亚·吉布森将因对手弃权而晋级决赛，决赛中她将对阵加拿大选手莱拉·费尔南德斯或波兰选手玛雅·赫瓦林斯卡。

普罗佐罗娃在 Instagram 上声称，9 月 26 日她在一场双打比赛中被扣杀击中面部后，受到 WTA 巡回赛理疗师的“压力”而退出比赛，并称这一决定是“权力滥用”。

9月26日，俄罗斯选手普罗佐罗娃与同胞索菲娅·兰塞雷搭档，在女子双打四分之一决赛中对阵加藤美优和艾伦·佩雷斯，但普罗佐罗娃和她的搭档在以7-5、5-2落后时，因被球击中面部而被迫退赛。

她在Instagram限时动态中写道：“我和我的团队与主办方进行了长时间的讨论；在此过程中，理疗师不断向在场的所有人施压，甚至声称我无法为自己的生命负责。“主办方的决定让我非常难过。我梦想中的一周今天就此结束了。”

她后来在另一条 Instagram 动态中澄清说：“组织者为我争取继续参加比赛的权利，但最终，决定是由 WTA 做出的。”

世界排名第180位的选手在新加坡网球公开赛上打入四强，这是这位22岁选手职业生涯迄今为止的最佳赛事成绩。

《海峡时报》已联系WTA和新加坡网球公开赛，以获取有关普罗佐罗娃言论的更多信息。

WTA 2026 规则手册规定：“比赛期间，如果出现紧急医疗状况，且相关球员无法请求初级保健提供者 (PHCP) 的帮助，则主裁应立即请求 PHCP 和赛事医生协助该球员。

“无论是在比赛开始前还是比赛进行中，如果一名球员被认为身体上无法参赛，或者对球员、官员或赛事工作人员构成严重的健康风险，PHCP 和/或赛事医生应通知主管，并建议判定该球员无法参加即将进行的比赛，或从正在进行的比赛中退赛。

“主管/裁判在采取此行动前应谨慎行事，并应以职业网球的最佳利益为出发点，同时考虑所有医疗建议和任何其他信息。”

9月25日，普罗佐罗娃经历了她的第三场马拉松式比赛，在四分之一决赛中，她用了181分钟以3-6、7-5、6-4的比分战胜了中国选手王心宇。

9 月 24 日，普罗佐罗娃用 189 分钟击败了菲律宾新星亚历山德拉·埃拉；9 月 22 日，她还与索菲亚·科斯图拉斯进行了一场耗时 2 小时 51 分钟的三盘大战。

本周早些时候，WTA 500 赛事还遭遇了二号种子阿曼达·阿尼西莫娃和两届大满贯冠军巴博拉·克雷吉科娃的退赛。

继世界排名第三的杰西卡·佩古拉于 9 月 16 日退赛之后，她们也相继退赛。

在新加坡网球公开赛官方宣布普罗佐罗娃退赛的帖子下，一些评论者似乎在寻求退款，但不确定自己是否有权获得退款。

一位网友说：“我买了半决赛第一场的票，但是因为有一名选手退赛，单打半决赛取消了，我的票怎么办？？？”

然而，另一位用户回复道：“可以退款，昨晚已发送邮件。”

体育和休闲