ELENA RYBAKINA needed a medical timeout after suffering a bizarre injury.
The former Wimbledon champion, 24, took on world No1 Iga Swiatek in the Qatar Open final in Doha.
But she did not help her already-uphill task with a freak incident during the first set.
As the clock approached the half-hour mark, Rybakina was serving to the three-time French Open winner leading 4-1 and looking in complete control.
But after completing her overarm swing, the frame of her racket caught her left shin during the follow-through.
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And it even broke the skin to split open a nasty gash.
The Kazakhstani ace needed to stop play to be treated by a doctor to patch up the wound and tend to the bump.
The 2022 All England Club Queen Rybakina was subsequently pegged back, losing four games in a row, but battled hard to force a first-set tie-break which Swiatek claimed 10-8.
Then the Polish star ran away with the second set, wrapping up a 7-6 6-2 victory in two hours and 19 minutes - completing a hat-trick of Doha titles.
But fans were quick to heap praise on Rybakina for her efforts despite the unconventional hindrance.
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One said: "I have so much respect for Rybakina. She forced a tie-break against the world No1 with an injury and a bleeding leg - she is the definition of a generational player."
Another wrote: "I hate that Rybakina lost that set to Swiatek when she had it all in her hands prior the slight leg injury.
A third added: "Have to think that injury timeout was the best thing that happened to Iga."
And a fourth commented: "Feels like an unfair match post-Rybakina leg injury. She's still such a gamer but ugh."
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Rybakina has made a strong start to the 2024 tennis season with two titles - in Brisbane and Abu Dhabi.
But aiming to go one better than her final run last year, she was dumped out of the Australian Open in round two after an epic 42-point tie-break.
