In a scary incident at the Mubadala Citi Open, Chinese tennis player Wu Yibing collapsed during his first-round match. It is unclear what triggered the collapse but this incident has shocked fans all around. This is a stark reminder that sports can be brutal and a player must always put his health above all else.
This traumatizing incident occurred during the first set when Yibing was leading 4-1 against the Japanese Yosuke Watanuki. Yibing was eventually forced to retire from the tournament.
It is speculated that the 23-year-old collapsed due to heatstroke. But this is the second time that Yibing has collapsed on the tennis court in the course of weeks
Unfortunately Wu Yibing has been forced to retire, sending Yosuke Watanuki through, 1-4 RET.
Get well soon, Yibing 🙏#MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/VzTivYXkRk
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 31, 2023
Good wishes poured in for Wu, as fans want to see him make a speedy recovery. “Prayers to Wibing. He’s an awesome player and I hate seeing this,” said a user.
It is reported that Yibing lost his balance as he was making his way to the chair and fell in front of a ballboy. Wu could not stand on his own feet and two men had to hold him up.
The Chinese player was clearly in no shape to resume the match and had to retire. His opponent, Watanuki, progressed to the next round in Washington.
Wu Yibing health update and Wimbledon 2023 collapse
This is the young Chinese player’s second health scare in the span of weeks. The previous episode of collapsing on the court happened during the first-round match at Wimbledon. Wu Yibing was playing against Frances Tiafoe. It looked like Yibing was having breathing troubles before the medics checked on him.
He subsequently collapsed and had to be carried off the court. He went back to play against Tiafoe when the medics cleared him. Yibing lost that match 7-6 6-3 6-4.
Wu Yibing’s heart rate was found to be at an astronomical 187. It was a great cause for concern among fans and pundits. The player himself put it down to the food he had had the night before.
“There was something wrong with the food I ate last night – I even felt like I was losing my consciousness out there. I was better after my medical timeout, but it still affected my breathing,” said Yibing.
He further added, “I feel good to play like I did, given my situation. I will go for a further check-up later,” he said during the post-match interview.
This latest incident has sparked concern for the player once again. To lose consciousness on the court twice, just weeks apart, should be viewed as an indicator of a bigger problem.