Russian tennis player Tatiana Prozorova was forced to withdraw from the Singapore Open semifinal after the tournament medical team ruled she could not compete due to a concussion, an outcome that ended her bid for a first WTA singles title. The decision advanced Australia’s Talia Gibson to the final by walkover.

The incident followed Prozorova sustaining a facial injury when struck by a ball during her doubles quarterfinal match on Friday. Afterward, she underwent a clinical assessment conducted by the WTA’s on-site medical staff and the tournament physician, which included balance and coordination tests. Prozorova, ranked No. 180 in singles, acknowledged fatigue from spending more than three hours on court over the previous three days, stating she struggled with some of the physical tests, particularly the exercise requiring standing on one leg with eyes closed.

Despite passing all but one aspect of the concussion evaluation, Prozorova and her team engaged in a lengthy discussion with the tournament medical team and organizers. She said the physiotherapist advised a minimum of six days’ rest and expressed concerns about her ability to take responsibility for her health decisions. Prozorova described the process as frustrating, posting on social media that she felt the system left players “absolutely helpless” and urged the WTA to reconsider its concussion protocols.

The WTA released a statement reaffirming its concussion policy, which stipulates that any player diagnosed with a concussion is ineligible to compete and must be withdrawn for their safety. The organization emphasized its commitment to protecting players’ health by enforcing these measures rigorously.

Prozorova’s withdrawal abruptly ended her run in the tournament, which she described as a “dream week,” underscoring the difficult balance between athlete safety and competitive opportunity in professional tennis.