Tennis Star Nikoloz Basilashvili, Has to Drop out of Australian Sydney Cup, Chest Pains

TENNIS star Nikoloz Basilashvili was forced to retire after struggling to breathe and needing treatment from a doctor.

The Georgian player was representing his country in the ATP Cup in Sydney.

But in his singles match on Wednesday against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas, play was suddenly halted when Basilashvili was serving at 4-1 down in the first set.

The 29-year-old hit a forehand long to trail 0-30 in the game.

He then walked slowly to his team's bench and tried to take some deep breaths and sip some water as he waited for the physio to come on to court.

The pair had a conversation before another doctor joined as hand gestures suggested he was feeling tightness in his chest.

He was overheard saying: "Every shot I’m out of breath."

As everyone knows all too well by now, Australia would not allow any tennis pro to play at the Sydney Cup unless they are fully vaccinated.

World tennis No.1 Novak Djokovic was detained by Australian authorities and forced into a COVID concentration camp for entering the country unvaccinated. Djokovic has also been denied the ability to compete in the Australian Open, which is set to begin on Jan 15th.