Team US star McCartney Kessler suffered a shocking back injury during her match against Belgium's Elise Mertens. The American star was fighting hard to keep the USA's hopes alive at the Billie Jean King Cup after fellow compatriot Iva Jovic had lost the opening match of the tie.
Before Kessler took to the court in Belgium, Jovic played against Belgium's Hanne Vandewinkel. In the opening tie of the contest. Jovic was expected to cruise past the Vandewinkel with ease, but the American youngster could not muster her best performance on the clay court. She had excelled on the hard court this season, reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
She also reached the round of 16 of the Dubai Tennis Championships for the first time in her career. Vandewinkel crushed Jovic 7-6(3), 6-3 to earn her maiden top 20 win of her career on tour at the front of the home crowd. Mertens and Kessler then took the court to continue the best-of-five contest, as Belgium had a 1-0 lead.
In the first set, Mertens and Kessler battled it out, forcing the set to a tiebreak before the Belgian star won 7-6(3). Kessler responded with a brilliant all-out attack in the second set, breaking Mertens twice to force a deciding set in the heated battle. Tied 3-3 (15-15), in the decisive set, Kessler was to serve for the point.
But the American star strained her back after striking a double fault. In a clip that went viral on social media, she clearly hobbled after hitting the double fault and then slowly walked to her court-side seat and looked in pain. She later left the court for a medical timeout and returned briefly emotionally to retire.
Mertens claimed the victory, her first over Kessler after losing twice in their head-to-head battle. The World No.48 has previously suffered from the same injury when she crashed out of the WTA 125 tournament in Texas in the quarter-finals. She returned to the court for the Miami Open and took part in the Charleston Open last week.
Belgium takes a 2-0 lead over Team USA in their Billie Jean King Cup encounter. Should Belgium win the next tie, they will seal their place in the Final of the tournament. However, if the USA Team earns the win, the tie will go down to the wire, as both countries will challenge for a place in the event.
14 nations, including defending champion Italy, will play in seven best-of-five match home and away ties to determine who books a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China, in September. Following McCartney Kessler's injury, Team USA will have to do without her help to reach the Finals of the tournament.
She was one of the most reliable players on the team, having played a major role in their run to the Finals last year. During the post-match press conference, Team USA captain Lindsay Davenport revealed that they have yet to diagnose the full extent of Kessler's injury and stressed that the American star is a tough player:
In that last point she said that when she hit her serve, she heard a crack. She cannot move now. I do not know the diagnosis, but I know that she is a really tough lady and is in a lot of pain. She was playing so well and we were really proud of her out there, but these things happen. Fingers crossed, but it looks a pretty bad injury at the moment.
There are reports that Davenport will now have to rely on Caty McNally and Nicole Melichar-Martinez's pairing in the doubles match against Belgium. Belgium will field Magali Kempen and Greet Minnen for the match. Should the doubles pair triumph, the USA will rely on Australian Open quarter-finalist Iva Jovic to tie the score.
(1965 Articles Published)