Taylor Fritz rushes to the sick bucket mid-match as the American tennis star chunders on the court | Tennis | Sport

Taylor Fritz had to stop her service game in the middle of the match to throw up. The world number 5 fell in the semi-finals of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel on Friday in the longest match in the tournament’s history, struggling visibly in difficult conditions.

There were some strange scenes in Acapulco on Friday when third seed Fritz stopped serving to run and find a place to throw up. The 25-year-old could be seen swinging over the towel boxes on the side of the pitch, while his opponent Tommy Paul had also struggled with fatigue earlier in the match in the humidity.

The American, ranked 5-6 in the second set, suddenly abandoned his serve and went to the side of the court to look for a place to throw up while holding his hand over his mouth. The referee then pointed to the bucket behind his bench as Fritz nodded before returning to the baseline to resume play and save match point to hold and force a tiebreak.

Fritz avoided a time violation despite chairman Raluca Alexandra Andrei giving Paul one earlier in the match when she took too long to serve while struggling in the humidity but not throwing up. “You have to apply the rule. I’m sorry you can’t warn Paul or Fritz,” commented commentator Barry Cowan.

After the match, Fritz’s girlfriend Morgan Riddle provided an update on the American’s condition. “When he got sick on the court last night we were with the tournament doctors until 4 o’clock. He couldn’t keep food down, chills, severe dehydration, full body convulsions and almost had to go to the hospital. So scary. He’s too stubborn to neglect and pushed himself too hard. These high humidity tournaments are no joke. Sad way to end the week, but so proud of the few weeks and excited to get to Indian Wells.”

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