Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Australia’s Talia Gibson will play for a maiden WTA Tour title when she contests the Singapore Open final following a breakthrough week complete with an unusual twist.
After an impressive upset win over seventh seed Maria Sakkari in the quarter-finals, Gibson was granted a walkover into Sunday’s championship match when semi-final opponent Tatiana Prozorova of Russia was forced to withdraw because of a concussion sustained in doubles on Friday.
Having started the 2026 season at world No.118, 22-year-old Gibson is now projected to break into the world’s top 40.
Gibson will take on either No.6 seed Leylah Fernandez – who beat top-seeded Mirra Andreeva in their quarter-final – or No.5 Maja Chwalinska for the chance to lift a first WTA trophy.
“I didn’t expect to get this far this week, so I think I just really enjoy the moment and enjoy being where I’m at,” said Gibson, who lost in a tight three-set match to Donna Vekic in the first round of the US Open.
“I think the next match, I just want to go out and enjoy it and have fun and try to bring my best.”
There was a interesting postscript as Prozorova expressed unhappiness about her concussion ruling.
She and fellow Russian Sofya Lansere’s retirement from their doubles quarter-final came after Prozorova was hit in the face by a ball.
“The physio called to the court insisted on taking me off-court to run a specific test,” Prozorova wrote.
“Unfortunately I didn’t know I could refuse. The test wasn’t easy. Given that I’d spent over three hours on court each of the last three days, I was fatigued, and I struggled with some of the exercises like standing on one leg with my eyes closed.
“My team and I had a long discussion with the organisers … the physio pressured everyone present and even claimed I wasn’t capable of taking responsibility for my own life.”
She claimed tournament organisers had supported her desire to continue playing, but the final decision rested with the WTA.
On Saturday the WTA said Prozorova was assessed by its on-site medical team and the tournament physician, and that concussion protocols are in place to protect player safety.
“Under the WTA Physical Incapacity Rule and Concussion Protocol, a player who is diagnosed with a concussion is not permitted to compete and will be ruled physically unable to do so,” a WTA spokesperson told Reuters.
“The player may only return to competition once they have successfully completed the required graduated return-to-play protocol and have received appropriate medical clearance.”
In more good news for Australian tennis, second-seeded Kim Birrell has advanced to the final of the Korea Open in Seoul, beating Hungary’s Anna Bondar 7-5 2-6 6-1 in their semi-final.
It may be an all-Australian final in the WTA 250 Series event, with fifth-seeded Maya Joint playing Russia’s Alina Korneeva in the later semi-final on Saturday.
– with Reuters
