US Open runner up Victoria Azarenka seems to have picked up from where she left of in US at the Italian Open in Rome, reaching the quarter-...
US Open runner up Victoria Azarenka seems to have picked up from where she left of in US at the Italian Open in Rome, reaching the quarter-final at the clay-court event. But it was an out-of-play moment that became the big takeaway from Saturday’s fourth-round action.
In one of the most touching moments of sporting spirit on the tennis court, Azarenka rushed to help and then console an injured Daria Kasatkina during their match. The videos of their interaction went viral on social media for the class the 31-year-old showed in the aftermath of the incident.
The 23-year-old Russian, a former top 10 player who has lost her momentum, had to come through qualifying and was doing well against Azarenka in a tight first set. But during the second point of their tiebreak, she rushed to the net but lost her footing and fell down on the court.
Visibly in pain, she stayed on the ground as the tournament trainer came out to check on her. But it was her opponent who got help first. Azarenka went to the other side of the net and then got an ice pack which he applied to Kasatkina’s injured right ankle.
The Russian clutched her foot, evidently being unable...
