Eugenie Bouchard hit by another dizzy spell in Beijing in fresh worry for Hong Kong Open organisers
Canadian, who is among the stars expected to compete in next week's Hong Kong tournament, retires from China Open, while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also feels faint
Eugenie Bouchard's concussion nightmare extended into the China Open yesterday as she felt faint and tearfully retired in the first round - shortly after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was also struck by dizzy spells.
Bouchard has not played since she slammed her head in a locker-room fall at the US Open, and she lasted just 10 games against Andrea Petkovic before feeling dizzy and having her blood pressure checked.
The Canadian sobbed into her towel and was comforted by Petkovic before she rose and walked out, waving grimly to the Beijing crowd, with the scoreline standing 6-2, 1-1 to her opponent.
She told me that she felt very dizzy. Then I asked if it was the same, if it still was the concussion. She said, 'yeah'
Bouchard's latest troubles put a further dent in the hopes of watching the Canadian star compete in next week's US$250,000 Prudential Hong Kong Open.
"I just asked her what happened, and she told me that she felt very dizzy. Then I asked if it was the same, if it still was the concussion," Petkovic said.
"She said, yeah, it tends to come back when she gets physically very active. I just said I feel it's really bad luck because I thought she was playing so well again."
Earlier Tsonga refused to blame Beijing's notorious air pollution as he was also hit by dizzy spells before falling at the first hurdle 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to little-known Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer.
