She beat Eala and was chasing her first WTA final, but a freak doubles incident changed everything

Saturday, 26 September 2026 at 02:30

Tatiana Prozorova was one win away from reaching her first WTA final, but a freak incident in doubles brought her breakthrough Singapore Open run to an abrupt end. The 22-year-old had arrived at the WTA 500 event ranked No. 180 and leaves Singapore having climbed to No. 123 in the live rankings after a run that included two major upsets.

Prozorova stunned world No. 18 Alexandra Eala in the second round for the first Top-20 win of her career before following it with another three-set victory over world No. 40 Wang Xinyu. Those results put her into the biggest semifinal of her career and left her one victory away from a first WTA final.

But her chance disappeared after she was struck in the face by an overhead during her doubles quarterfinal alongside compatriot Sofya Lansere. Prozorova immediately fell to the ground and, after receiving medical attention, the pair retired from the match.

The incident ultimately forced Prozorova out of the singles semifinal against Australia's Talia Gibson, scheduled for Saturday. The Russian was diagnosed with a concussion, bringing an extraordinary week to an unexpected conclusion.

Prozorova’s doubles accident ends singles run

Prozorova and Lansere were trailing No.3 seeds Ellen Perez and Miyu Kato 7-5, 5-2, 15-15 when Kato inadvertently hit an overhead into Prozorova's face. The Russian collapsed immediately, while Perez and Kato crossed the net to check on her.

After a short delay, Prozorova left the court for a medical timeout before the Russian pair retired. The incident initially appeared to have ended only her doubles campaign, but the consequences became much greater when she was assessed again ahead of her scheduled singles semifinal.

Prozorova just got hit hard in the face on an overhead, has been off court taking an MTO for a while now pic.twitter.com/f8ggewuv84
— Owen (@kostekcanu) September 25, 2026

According to The Athletic, Prozorova said in an Instagram Stories statement that the ball “grazed my cheek and hit my shoulder.” She was then taken off court by a WTA physio for an assessment that included several balance exercises.

“The physio called to the court insisted on taking me off-court to run a specific test. Unfortunately I didn’t know I could refuse," the Russian player wrote.

“My team and I had a long discussion with the organizers; throughout the process, the physio pressured everyone present and even claimed I wasn’t capable of taking responsibility for my own life. The organizers’ decision really upset me. My dream week came to an end today…”

holy shit? prozorova didn't even want to withdraw, she agreed to "optional" testing but nobody told her it wasn't obligatory, and now she can't play in singapore AND beijing. oh my god pic.twitter.com/74I4bR6GBX
— roza (@ad_swiatek) September 25, 2026

A breakthrough week ends before the final

The WTA's 2026 Rulebook does not specifically reference concussion protocols, but it does contain regulations covering situations in which a player is considered physically unable to compete or poses a serious health risk.

Under those regulations, the relevant medical personnel can recommend that a player be ruled unable to compete, while the Supervisor or Referee is instructed to consider the medical advice and other available information before making a decision.

For Prozorova, that decision meant missing the biggest singles match of her career. She had won three matches from a set down during her Singapore run, including victories over Eala and Wang, and had become one of the tournament's unexpected breakout stories.

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Instead of Prozorova, Gibson advanced to the final by walkover. The 22-year-old Australian, ranked No.63, will face either Canada's Leylah Fernandez or Poland's Maja Chwalińska for the title.

Gibson is also competing in doubles and will play her semifinal on Saturday. Prozorova, meanwhile, leaves Singapore with a dramatic rise in the rankings and the confidence of having beaten two established Top-40 players, but without the opportunity to finish the week with her first WTA final.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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