Kirsten Flipkens - injury at health point
At the WTA Tour 500 tournament in Abu Dhabi, Kirsten Flipkenstwisted an unhappy twist against Sofia Kenin . After the collision with a stand. A similar mishap could not happen at the Australian Open.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jan 09, 2021, 10:24 am
Not that there was any additional delicacy required, but: The advertising display that killed Kirsten Flipkens in her match against Sofia Kenin was labeled “Healthpoint”. That won't help the Belgian, who twisted her ankle badly while chasing a high ball from Kenin.
Even if Flipkens was of course very unlucky, it is almost astonishing that such accidents do not happen more often. All that remains in memory is David Goffin's mishap in Roland Garros 2017 against Horacio Zeballos. Flipkens' compatriot had threaded into a rain tarpaulin that was not completely withdrawn. And injured his knee.
No linesmen at the Australian Open
Now, due to the different dimensions of the court, it is not only the players who live potentially dangerous: Anyone who has ever attended a match on the old Court 1, the "bullring" in Roland Garros, knows: Due to the tightness, the line judges and can even cause a little restlessness among the spectators in the front row. On the other hand: Goffin was injured one day in Suzanne-Lenglen, which actually has enough space to run out.
At the upcoming Australian Open, the risk of a flipkens accident is very low: As in some tournaments in autumn 2020, no linesmen will be used there. The permanent Hawkeye assesses the impact of the ball.