Azarenka consoles Kasatkina following injury retirement in Rome
Daria Kasatkina suffered a fluke ankle injury during the first-set tiebreaker and was forced to retire from her Rome match against Victoria Azarenka, who did her best to console and help the fallen Russian.
WTA – Rome : Kasatkina, première qualifiée
Victoria Azarenka won her second-round match at the Internazionali in the BNL d’Italia in the best possible way: without losing a single game. Yes, she routed Sofia Kenin 6-0, 6-0 on Thursday.
During third-round action on Friday, however, Azarenka won in the worst possible way: via retirement.
The US Open runner-up had a much tougher test on her hands from Daria Kasatkina and was pushed to a first-set tiebreaker before the Russian was suddenly forced to retire. On the second point of the ‘breaker, Kasatkina rolled over her ankle and could not continue.
Although the scenes were tough to watch, Azarenka was admirable in how she tended to her fallen opponent.
Vika Azarenka and Daria Kasatkina were in a tie-break when Kasatkina went over on her ankle – does not look good.
Azarenka fetched her a bag of ice, comforted her when she burst into tears & helped her to her chair. pic.twitter.com/aTJ8YJCXtX
— Live Tennis (@livetennis) September 18, 2020
Daria Kasatkina forced to retire due to injury at 6-6.
Azarenka comes over for a long chat.
Heartbreaker for Kasatkina, who had played so well in Rome, coming through qualifying. #ibi20 pic.twitter.com/BtvFWiO7oC
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) September 18, 2020
Vika packing Kasatkina’s bag #IBI20 pic.twitter.com/gbjvOs9HHQ
— Ashish 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) September 18, 2020
The 31-year-old from Belarus advances to a quarterfinal contest against Garbine Muguruza, who defeated Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-1.
