Tatiana Prozorova fumes after concussion call ends her Singapore Open tennis semifinal run

SINGAPORE (AP) — Russian tennis player Tatiana Prozorova said she was unfairly withdrawn from her semifinal at the Singapore Open because of a physician's concerns about a concussion.

>Prozorova's withdrawal sent Australia's Talia Gibson — her scheduled opponent in Saturday's match — to the final ​by walkover and ended the No. 180-ranked player’s chances of a first singles title on the WTA Tour.

>The decision, she said, “really upset me" because she thought she performed well on a clinical assessment by the WTA’s on-site medical team and the tournament physician.

>"My dream week came to an end," the 22-year-old Prozorova posted on Instagram, urging the WTA to reconsider its rules. “A system that renders players absolutely helpless.”

>Prozorova had been struck in the face by a ball during her doubles quarterfinal match Friday, which prompted the assessment.

>“The test wasn’t easy. Given that I’d spent over three ​hours on court each of the last three days,” Prozorova said. “I was fatigued, and I struggled with some of the exercises like ‌standing ⁠on one leg with my eyes closed.”

>Prozorova, who retired from the doubles match alongside partner Sofya Lansere, said this was the only test she did not pass.

>“My team and I had a long discussion with the organizers,” she continued, saying the physio told her she needed at least six days of rest.

>“Throughout the process, the physio pressured everyone present and even claimed I wasn’t capable of ​taking responsibility for ​my own ⁠life,” Prozorova said.

WTA concussion protocolThe WTA said player health and safety is its “highest priority.”

>Under the tour's concussion protocol, “a player who is diagnosed with a concussion is not permitted to compete and will be ruled physically unable to do so,” the WTA said in a statement sent the The Associated Press on Saturday.

>“The player may only return to competition once they have successfully completed the required graduated return-to-play protocol and have received appropriate medical clearance,” it added. “This process is designed to protect the player’s health and safety and to reduce the risk associated with returning to competition before adequate recovery.”

>It's understandable that players want to keep on competing, the statement said.

>“However, following a head injury, our medical teams have a responsibility to protect player health and welfare and to follow established concussion protocols and internationally recognized guidelines when determining a player’s return to competition,” the WTA added. ___

>See AP’s full tennis coverage here