Tennis-Anisimova announces abrupt retirement from Indian Wells

March 12, 2022; Indian Wells, California, United States; Amanda Anisimova (USA) bats against Leyla Fernandez (CAN) in their 2nd round match at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

March 13, 2022

By Rory Carroll

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (Reuters) – Amanda Anisimova, who abruptly pulled out of her second-round match against Canada’s Leylah Fernandez at Indian Wells on Saturday, said on Sunday she felt too ill to continue.

The American drove 6-2 through the first set and was leading 5-4, 40-0 when teenager Fernandez charged back and saved four match points to force a tie break, which she dominated 7-6 (0). .

Before the expected third set could begin, Anisimova told the chair umpire that she wasn’t feeling well and rushed off to the stunned disappointment of the 5,000 fans in Stadium Two.

“Hello everyone, unfortunately I’ve been quite ill for the past few days and woke up yesterday with a very bad feeling,” Anisimova wrote in a social media post.

“I wanted to try to push it through in the match and continue playing the tournament. I couldn’t continue the game because at that point I felt like I was putting my health at risk.

“It’s disappointing for me to end this week like this, but that’s how it is sometimes. I will try to be better next time. I’m looking forward to being back on the pitch soon. And please keep your negative comments to yourself.”

The hard-hitting 20-year-old was a contender for the tournament, winning the pre-tournament Eisenhower Cup, an exhibition that pits players against each other in 10-point tiebreaks.

At the Australian Open in January, Anisimova beat Naomi Osaka and Belinda Bencic before losing to eventual champion Ash Barty in the fourth round.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Clare Fallon)