Australian Open: 'I felt like someone shot me in the back' – Elina Svitolina retires against Linda Noskova

Published 22/01/2024 at 06:06 GMT

Linda Noskova's impressive run at the Australian Open continued on Monday, although not in the way she would have hoped. The Czech teenager is through to a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time after opponent Elina Svitolina withdrew injured with just three games on the board. Noskova will next face another Ukrainian, Dayana Yastremska, after she stopped Victoria Azarenka in straight sets.

'So tough to watch' - Heartbroken Svitolina retires injured against Noskova

Elina Svitolina said she "felt like someone shot me in the back" after retiring early from her Australian Open fourth-round match with Czech teenager Linda Noskova.

The 19th seed lasted just three games before she decided she could not continue, ending hopes of an all-Ukrainian quarter-final with Dayana Yastremska, who continued her sensational run in Melbourne with a 7-6(6) 6-4 win over two-time champion Victoria Azarenka.

"I got a spasm, or I don't know exactly what it is, but like shooting pain in the first game, the last two points," Svitolina told a press conference.

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"Yeah, couldn't do anything. Completely locked my back. Just very sad, of course, so yeah."

Svitolina was a dark horse for the title after a sensational start in Melbourne, losing just 13 games across her opening three matches.

But after a marathon opening game saw Noskova fight back from 40-0 to break, Svitolina appeared in difficulty and summoned the trainer when trailing 2-0.

After having lengthy treatment on her back, she returned to court but lost her serve again before tearfully retiring.

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Asked if she felt any pain before the match, Svitolina said: "I felt little bit, but it's quite normal. I've been playing some tennis in this tournament already.

"You know, fourth round, you have a little bit stiffness somewhere. Nothing really special. Like not a big issue before.

"This one I think I never had that before, the shooting pain like this. I had some injuries to my back before where it just was tiredness the next day of the match, but this one was really out of nowhere.

"I felt like someone shot me in the back."

Noskova has blown open the top half of the women's draw after her stunning victory over world No.1 Iga Swiatek last week, with qualifier Yastremska awaiting in the last eight and 12th seed Qinwen Zheng the highest seed left in that part of the draw.

"Obviously today is not the way I planned to win. I feel sorry for Elina, hope she gets well soon," said Noskova.