TENNIS NEWS - World No 1 Garbine Muguruza retired ill with a virus in the first round of the China Open on Monday and US Open winner Sloane Stephens went out in a shock defeat.
Spain's Muguruza suggested in the build-up that she was not fully fit after a leg injury and she lost the first set 6-1 to unseeded Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic.
Muguruza, 23, the reigning Wimbledon champion, called a medical timeout at 2-0 down in the second set and then called it quits after having her pulse taken on the side of the court.
Muguruza said afterwards she had been too unwell even to practise for her opener but had been determined to play, having lost in the quarterfinals last week in Wuhan.
"Since I'm in Beijing, I didn't play at all. I don't know, I got a virus in Wuhan," she said.
"I want to feel like giving the last chance, going on the court, just hit a few balls, see how I'm going to feel, try to turn things around.
"I don't want to retire before the tournament starts for me."
Muguruza, yet to win a tournament since reaching the top ranking in mid-September, added: "It's good that I could play on Monday, I had more days to rest.
"But in fact, I couldn't perform today."
