SINGAPORE (AP) — Russian tennis player Tatiana Prozorova said she was unfairly withdrawn from her semifinal at the Singapore Open because of a physician's concerns about a concussion.
Prozorova's withdrawal sent Australia's Talia Gibson — her scheduled opponent in Saturday's match — to the final by walkover and ended the No. 180-ranked player’s chances of a first singles title on the WTA Tour.
The decision, she said, “really upset me" because she thought she performed well on a clinical assessment by the WTA’s on-site medical team and the tournament physician.
"My dream week came to an end," the 22-year-old Prozorova posted on Instagram, urging the WTA to reconsider its rules. “A system that renders players absolutely helpless.”
Prozorova had been struck in the face by a ball during her doubles quarterfinal match Friday, which prompted the assessment.
“The test wasn’t easy. Given that I’d spent over three hours on court each of the last three days,” Prozorova said. “I was fatigued, and I struggled with some of the exercises like standing on one leg with my eyes closed.”
Prozorova, who retired from the doubles match alongside partner Sofya Lansere, said this was the only test she did not pass.
“My team and I had a long discussion with the organizers,” she continued, saying the physio told her she needed at least six days of rest.
“Throughout the process, the physio pressured everyone present and even claimed I wasn’t capable of taking responsibility for my own life,” Prozorova said.
The WTA said player health and safety is its “highest priority.”
Under the tour's concussion protocol, “a player who is diagnosed with a concussion is not permitted to compete and will be ruled physically unable to do so,” the WTA said in a statement sent the The Associated Press on Saturday.
“The player may only return to competition once they have successfully completed the required graduated return-to-play protocol and have received appropriate medical clearance,” it added. “This process is designed to protect the player’s health and safety and to reduce the risk associated with returning to competition before adequate recovery.”
It's understandable that players want to keep on competing, the statement said.
See AP’s full tennis coverage here
FILE -Tatiana Prozorova of Russia returns a shot to Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic during the first round match of the Korea Open tennis championships at Seoul Olympic Park Tennis Center in Seoul, South Korea, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
The Ireland team’s press conference and training session the day before the first of its Nations League games against Israel have been delayed as pressure to boycott the matches grows.
Journalists in Debrecen, Hungary — where Israel’s “home” game is to be played Sunday — were left waiting Saturday after being told the press conference was being pushed back until after training. That was 15 minutes before it was supposed to begin.
Training was also significantly delayed, however, with Irish broadcaster RTÉ reporting the players were still in their hotel more than two hours after the training session was supposed to begin.
RTÉ reported that some players had decided they did not want to play the games.
"And if they stay to their stated ambition that they have to be all in it together, if one or more want to be out, maybe they will all be out,” reporter Tony O’Donoghue told RTÉ Radio 1.
The team has been coming under increasing pressure in Ireland, where affinity with Palestinians is strong, to boycott the two games — the first on Sunday and the second, Ireland’s “home” game, in Backa Topola, Serbia on Oct. 4.
Ireland midfielder Jason Knight said after Thursday’s 1-0 loss in Kosovo that the players were in a difficult situation and that he didn’t think the matches should be going ahead.
Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson previously said “we’re not playing with genocide, we’re playing against genocide. We’re playing against Israel, we’re not playing with Israel” — drawing a furious reaction from the Israeli soccer federation, which accused the Icelandic coach of “stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy.”
The Football Association of Ireland had resisted calls to boycott the matches, arguing the team could be hit be punishing sanctions by UEFA. Ireland is co-hosting the 2028 European Championship with England, Wales and Scotland.
More than 160 Irish sportspeople signed an open letter urging the FAI to reconsider its decision to go ahead with the fixtures.
There were protestors outside the team hotel in Dublin last week calling on the players to boycott the games. The SIPTU trade union displayed a huge poster in central Dublin beside the River Liffey asking the players to “Go with your conscience!” and “Don't play with genocide” beside an image of a blood-splattered ball.
Former Ireland coach Brian Kerr said the FAI had “lost of the respect of the Irish people” for going ahead with the games.
“The Irish people and the soccer-going public don’t want the games to be played,” Kerr said. “I think they’ve made their opinions clear over the last year. The FAI back in November actually went to UEFA and requested that Israel be put out of the tournament on a principle. And yet they went against that principle.”
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
FILE - Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson ahead of the World Cup 2026 group F qualifying soccer match between Hungary and Ireland in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos, File)
Ireland's Jack Moylan, right, challenges for the ball with Kosovo's Albian Hajdari during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Kosovo and Ireland in Pristina, Kosovo, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Ireland's players pose for the team picture before the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Kosovo and Ireland in Pristina, Kosovo, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
