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Dalila Jakupovic criticizes the Australian Open after the smoke from the fires forced her to stop playing

2020-01-15T01:02:16.049Z


Dalila Jakupovic of Slovenia won 6-4, 5-6 the game against the Swiss Stefanie Vogele, but could not finish her service game at the end of the second set.


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Smoke from fires affects the Australian Open 2:11

(CNN) - A tennis player was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open qualification in Melbourne after collapsing with a coughing attack caused by smoke from forest fires.

Dalila Jakupovic of Slovenia won 6-4, 5-6 the game against the Swiss Stefanie Vogele, but could not finish her service game at the end of the second set.

“It was very difficult for me to breathe throughout the game. After 20 minutes I already had difficulties, ”Jakupovic told Amanda Davies of CNN exclusively.

  • The Australian Open: poor air quality disrupts the qualification tournament at the Grand Slam

“I couldn't make more than three shots running from left to right because I was already having an asthma attack. I usually don't have asthma. ”

Distressing scenes in the Australian Open qualifiers in Melbourne as Dalila Jakupovic is forced to retire when bushfire smoke brings on a coughing fit pic.twitter.com/3IiDVHXMVx

- Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 14, 2020

'Panic attack'

Jakupovic said a physiotherapist gave him a breathing apparatus in the first set, but began to feel worse at the end of the second.

"I just couldn't breathe," he said. "I couldn't walk, so I just fell (to the floor) because I couldn't stand up straight."

“After that I had a panic attack because I couldn't breathe. I must say it was very difficult. It was one of my most difficult games. ”

Smoke over the Rod Laver Stadium in Melbourne.

Practices for players who already qualified for the Australian Open were temporarily suspended in Melbourne on Tuesday because the smoke from the fires, which have been burning across the country for months, affected most of the state of Victoria.

Melbourne's air quality was rated "moderate to dangerous" due to smoke, according to the Victoria Environmental Protection Authority, which recommended people stay indoors.

At least 28 people have died as a result of fires this season. More than 3,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged in the state of New South Wales while authorities have struggled to contain widespread fires.

Delilah Jakupovic

'We are all upset'

Jakupovic also urged tournament organizers to do more to help players while the bad air conditions continue.

"We are all upset and a little disappointed because we think they would take better care of us," he added.

“Also my opponent after the game said she also had problems. It didn't look as bad as I did, but he said he couldn't breathe normally through the air. ”

"It's not the way you want to compete like this with (these) problems ... It's not the ideal situation."

Jakupovic, No. 82 in the world, who was potentially about to break the tie to win his game against Vogele when he retired, said the conditions were not as he had experienced before.

"We were talking about that, but (the organizers) said they checked and the air was fine," he said.

“Obviously, this is not pollution, it is smoke, so it is a bit different from what we are used to. We play in China, we play in other countries and cities that are polluted, but this is smoke, it is something that none of us had experienced before. ”

She was not the only player who commented on dangerous conditions before the first Grand Slam of the year.

"Why should we wait for something bad to happen to do an action (sic)," tweeted world number 5, Elina Svitolina.

A spectator puts on a mask during one of the qualifying matches.

Frenchman Gilles Simon was also critical.

“When we have doctors who claim that playing at 45 degrees is not dangerous at the Australian Open and referees who claim that wet grass is not slippery in Wimbledon, we must find an expert who can certify that the air quality is sufficient, right? ? ”, He tweeted on Tuesday.

Sharapova party, interrupted

The organizers of the Australian Open said conditions were improving and "constantly being monitored."

"As always, the health and safety of our players, our staff and our fans are our priority," said a statement, adding that more decisions would be made using data on the site, consultations with the medical team, the Meteorology Office and EPA Victoria scientists.

The Kooyong Classic tournament in the suburbs of Melbourne, one of several warm-up tournaments before the Australian Open, was also affected by smoke.

Maria Sharapova's game against Germany's Laura Siegemund was interrupted when the players tied 5-5 in the second set.

“After two and a half hours that was the right decision for me. I think we are both sorry, ”Sharapova told reporters.

Maria Sharapova's game against Laura Siegemund had to be interrupted by smoke.

In a series of Twitter posts last week, the organizers of the Australian Open indicated that the tournament would probably take place as planned, although defending champion Novak Djokovic had said that delaying the start of the tournament should be considered given The extreme nature of fires.

"In the unlikely event of extreme smoke conditions, the roofs will be closed on the three stadium courts and the game will continue in its air-conditioned and air-filtered environment," the official account tweeted.

"If the smoke infiltrates the three stadium courts, the air conditioning system will filter it."

Three of the Australian Open exhibition grounds in Melbourne Park - Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and Melbourne Arena - have retractable roofs that are closed in case of rain or extreme heat, and the site also houses the National Tennis Center, which has eight more covered courts.

Relief efforts

Players and organizations throughout the sport are committed to supporting relief efforts for forest fires.

Australian Nick Kyrgios pledged to donate US $ 140 (200 Australian dollars) for each ace he hits in the upcoming tournaments, an offer that has provoked similar gestures from other players.

Sharapova agreed to donate US $ 17,400 (25,000 AUSD), a sum that was matched by Djokovic.

The Australian Open will also organize a rally rally for help in Melbourne Park on Wednesday, which will feature Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

The Grand Slam starts next week and is played from January 20 to February 2.

With additional information from Divya Gopalan

Australian Open Fire in Australia

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2020-01-15

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