EMMA RADUCANU needed to be checked over by doctors during her first-round match in Ningbo.
It was the Brit’s first time playing competitively since having to retire with dizziness in the sweltering heat in Wuhan last week.
And midway through the second set against world No219 Zhu Lin, she called on the trainer.
Raducanu, 22, was seemingly struggling in the warm temperatures and intense 90 per cent humidity in China – just like a week ago.
A doctor and a physio both rushed on to court at 4-3 in the second set, immediately after Raducanu broke back.
The physio appeared to take her pulse and blood pressure as the former US Open champion wrapped a towel around herself.
Raducanu was able to carry on this time, though.
However, after holding serve for 4-4, she dropped it when serving to stay in the second set to take it to a decider, having won the first 6-3.
The Bromley star then headed off court for a lengthy bathroom break before the third set.
Early in the decider, she repeatedly keeled over and clutched at her lower back.
And she called the trainer on again for a medical time-out on the back.
Raducanu, ranked 29th in the world, had her blood pressure, temperature, pupils and heart rate checked during the on-court assessment against Ann Li last Tuesday.
But trailing 6-1 4-1, she could not continue and terminated the match.
On Saturday, she gave a health update on Threads.
Raducanu wrote: “Last day at the doctor’s in Wuhan… feeling better now.
“Shame I couldn’t continue there but thank you for the messages.”
Raducanu is not the only high-profile player struggling in the brutal conditions in China during this part of the tennis season swing.
Magdalena Frech blasted: “It’s no longer a tennis match, just a fight for survival!”
At the Shanghai Masters, Jannik Sinner retired after suffering from severe cramps while Holger Rune asked: “Do you want a player to die on court?”
Novak Djokovic could barely move during parts of his shock semi-final defeat to Valentin Vacherot.
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