Protest halts Norrie vs Zverev as Australian Open star retires in tears on court

Elina Svitolina was forced to retire from the Australian Open just three matches and 23 minutes into her match with Linda Noskova.

Svitolina was in visible pain as her back locked up on the court, reducing her to tears before she left the venue.

“Yeah, I got a spasm,” she said. “Or I don’t know exactly what it is, but like shooting pain in the first game, the last two points. Yeah, couldn’t do anything. Completely locked my back. Just very sad, of course, so yeah.