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Distressing scenes as lineswoman leaves court in tears at Aus Open

Yahoo Sport Australia

A female line judge has been escorted from the court in tears in distressing scenes at the Australian Open.

The judge was officiating the first-round match between Fabio Fognini and Jaume Munar on Tuesday when she was struck by a ball.

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She appeared to wear it in the back, leaving her wincing in pain.

The line judge was in tears as she left the court. Image: Eurosport
The line judge was in tears as she left the court. Image: Eurosport

She then broke down in tears and had to be helped from the court by a fellow line judge.

Fognini and Munar both came over to check on the woman before she left.

Fortunately, she was back on court a few minutes later, received a warm reception from the crowd.

The line judge was hit by a ball. Image: Eurosport
The line judge was hit by a ball. Image: Eurosport

The judge’s tears weren’t the only ones to fall on Tuesday, with Polish player Kamil Majchrzak also breaking down as he left the court.

Majchrzak was leading eighth seed Kei Nishikori two sets to love before disaster struck, with cramp setting in.

The young Pole was visibly suffering as Nishikori stormed back to take the match to a fifth set, before Majchrzak was forced to retire hurt while trailing 0-3 in the decider.

He could be seen weeping into his towel as he contemplated what could have been.

The pair had been on court for two hours and 48 minutes on another hot day in Melbourne when Majchrzak pulled the pin.

The world No.176 was making his grand slam singles debut.

Nishikori, the 2014 US Open finalist, advanced to a second-round showdown against towering Croatian Ivo Karlovic, a 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (-5) winner over Pole Hubert Hurkacz.

with AAP