Wimbledon doubles player Demi Schuurs required medical attention after she was involved in a nasty collision with a ball girl at the All England Club.
Schuurs and partner Ellen Perez took on Shuko Aoyama and Liang En-shuo on No3 Court as they looked to book their place in the semi-finals of the women’s doubles.
Seeking to hold serve at 3-3 in the first set, Schuurs desperately backtracked as she looked to retrieve a looping forehand from her opponents.
However, with her full focus on retrieving the ball, the 32-year-old did not appear to realise that a ball girl was right beside her.
Schuurs narrowly missed hitting the ball girl with her racquet as she attempted to return the ball before colliding with her and sending both tumbling to the floor.
‘She was totally looking at the ball and just had no awareness that the ball girl was on her shoulder,’ former tennis player Melanie South said on BBC commentary.
‘We can see she was a little bit teary in the moment, but it was just coming completely out of the blue when you’re expecting to play a tennis shot and then you’re on the ground.’
Schuurs initially looked in pain but made her way to her feet before exchanging a high five with the ball girl.
The Dutchwoman was then allowed a medical timeout to be seen by a physio before returning to the match.
But despite recovering to hold her serve, Schuurs and Perez eventually fell to a 6-4 6-4 defeat against Aoyama and En-shuo.
Reflecting on the defeat later on Instagram, Schuurs said: ‘Losing is never easy, especially when you know how close you are to taking another step.
‘But that’s sport, and it’s also what makes the good moments so special. Of course, I’m disappointed, but I’m also proud that we reached the quarterfinals.
‘Wimbledon will always be a special place for me. Every time I get the chance to compete here, it’s something I’ll never take for granted.
‘Looking back at our European swing, there’s a lot to be proud of. We reached our first final together and made the quarterfinals at both Grand Slams. Of course, we always want more, but these past few weeks have shown that we’re moving in the right direction.
‘A big thank you to Ellen Perez for a great few weeks. I love sharing the court with you, and I’m excited to keep working hard together and chasing even bigger goals.
‘Now it’s time for me to switch off, recover, and recharge before the next part of the season. And finally, thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. Your messages and support mean more than you know.’
Meanwhile, Aoyama and En-shuo will take on second seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani for a place in the final.
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