Antonija Ružić is in the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Dubai, after the Croatian was handed the match by Australian Open winner Jelena Rybakina.
The Kazakh won the first set 5:5, but the 63rd seed was better in the second, and she broke her rivals' serve in the first game of the third set.
Rybakina then sought medical help, felt nauseous, dizzy, and had to surrender.
"I'm sorry, I was feeling really exhausted and had trouble sleeping the night before."
And Ružić thus became a double "easy loser", because she reached the main draw after 12 tennis players withdrew, including the best - Arina Sabaljenka and Iga Sfjontek.
"I hope for a speedy recovery for Jelena, no one wants to go on like that. And this is the first time I'm playing as an easy loser, and I want to take advantage of that second chance. I'm happy with my performance," the 23-year-old Croatian emphasized.
In the quarterfinals, the Croatian will play against Ukrainian Jelena Svitolina, who overcame Belinda Benčić - 4:6, 6:1, 6:3.
Bonus video:
