AUSTRALIAN OPEN PLAYER QUITS MATCH AFTER COUGHING, FALLING Due To Smoke-Filled Air

[brooklynite]

TMZ

Slovenian tennis pro Dalila Jakupovic was forced to quit her qualifying match at the Australian Open on Tuesday ... after she coughed and collapsed to the court due to the air quality.

Of course, the air in Melbourne is currently considered "the worst in the world" as smoke from the wildfires has taken over the area.

Despite the chief health officer saying the air was very poor or hazardous, the qualifying round of the tournament kicked off on Tuesday ... and several players have complained about the conditions already.

Jakupovic was in the middle of the second set of her match against Stefanie Vogele when she started coughing uncontrollably and went to her knees.

[Rorey]

1. Grossly unfair

She has my sympathy.

As someone who has actually had to leave stores because some people seem to feel the need to bathe in perfumes, I feel her pain.

[dewsgirl]

3. I hate that.🤢

[Rorey]

4. I know people must be thinking I have the plague or something

It really sucks.

Whenever we have a big fire in Colorado that impacts our air quality where I live, I crank up the air filters and stay home.

I think I compromised my lungs by not heeding those warnings on the labels of products saying to "use in a ventilated area" or "wear a mask". I do now, but the damage is done.

[2naSalit]

2. I can't believe that the games continue under these conditions!

The fact that they are just shows how much money commands things rather than consideration for the athletes and the audience.

[Rorey]

5. Agree NT

[brooklynite]

6. Look at the haze ion the distance

[Blues Heron]

7. why not move it inside. set up massive air purifiers?

the denial is so insane.

[CatWoman]

9. money to be made, hon

[Coventina]

8. The "Tour Down Under" is also about to start.

A "Tour de France"-style bicycle race.

I predict disaster.

[colsohlibgal]

10. So Disturbing

But Climate Change is a big hoax right Orange Mussolini? Richie Riches don’t care as long as they rake in their multi millions.

[Raftergirl]

11. A ball kid also collapsed

And several players needed medical assistance and needed inhalers. In one match both players had to have MTO and one of the players could only serve underhand for an entire 3rd set.

Melbourne authorities had told people to stay indoors - including their pets and construction workers to stop working. Horse racing was cancelled and Aussie Rules football cancelled their practices.

The 7 indoor practice courts (which has been trotted out by TA as an alternative if conditions got worse) were found to have been inundated with smokey air because the ventilation system brings air in from outside but doesn’t circulate the air out - making them unusable.

As the qualies were going on the outside courts - the top players were having practice time on the 3 big show courts which have roofs and sophisticated air conditioning and ventilation systems.