 London: Kim Clijsters reached the fourth round of Wimbledon on Friday when 12th-seeded Vera Zvonareva retired with an apparent respiratory problem when trailing 6-3, 4-3.
Zvonareva was coughing loudly during the match and the 2010 finalist was in tears as she needed a medical timeout at 2-1 in the second set. The trainer took her pulse and she was examined with a stethoscope before resuming play, but had to retire four games later.
Clijsters said, "I think she was having difficulties breathing" and that it`s "sad to see her end the tournament this way."
The Belgian is playing in her last Wimbledon as she plans to retire after this year`s U.S. Open. She will next play No. 8 Angelique Kerber, who beat Christina McHale of the United States 6-2, 6-3.
Agencies
First Published: Friday, June 29, 2012, 23:14
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