US Open: Leylah Fernandez admits she was wrong to complain about Emma Raducanu’s bleeding knee
Leylah Fernandez admits she was wrong to complain about Emma Raducanu’s bleeding knee causing a pause at a critical juncture in the US Open final – but says she did not realise ‘how serious it was’
With Emma Raducanu serving for the match at 30-30, the Briton grazed herself At break point down, there was a pause in play as her bleeding knee was treated In the moment, Fernandez was frustrated and complained to the officials thereBut since then, the Canadian teenager admitted her protests were misplaced
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Leylah Fernandez admitted in the wake of the US Open final that her protests about Emma Raducanu’s medical timeout to treat a bleeding knee were misplaced.
Amid high drama inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Raducanu serving for the match at 30-30, the British player grazed herself as she took a fall and went break point down – but there was a delay of several minutes before playing that point due to the treatment.
Fernandez later conceded the tension of the occasion contributed to her complaining to officials about the treatment.
Leylah Fernandez (left) said her protests about Emma Raducanu’s (right) knee were misplaced
At a crucial point in the match, break point down, Raducanu grazed her knee (pictured above)
‘I honestly did not know what was happening with Emma,’ the 19-year-old said. ‘I didn’t know how serious her fall was, that’s why I went to see the official and ask her about it.
‘It just happened in the heat of the moment. It was too bad that it happened in that specific moment with me, with the momentum. But it’s sports, it’s tennis. Just got to move on.’
Although tennis matches rarely need to be stopped for blood injuries the rulebook is quite specific, and the correct procedure was followed.
It reads: ‘If a player is bleeding, the Chair umpire must stop play as soon as possible and the sports physiotherapist must be called to court by the Chair umpire for evaluation and treatment.
At the time, Canadian teenager Fernandez spoke to officials to air her frustration at the delay
But correct procedure was followed in treating Raducanu’s knee and Fernandez admitted that
‘The sports physiotherapist will evaluate the source of the bleeding and will request a medical timeout if necessary.’
Fernandez created two break points in a dramatic final game, but Raducanu saved them both and eventually took the match 6-4, 6-3, converting her third championship point with an ace.
The Canadian was gracious in defeat, saying: ‘Emma is a very good player. She’s been playing incredibly these last few months with a lot of confidence.
‘I unfortunately made too many mistakes. I think Emma noticed it and she took advantage of that.’
