Heartbreak as Priscilla Hon helps opponent off court in a wheelchair

The pain was too much to cope with for Marina Stakusic. (Getty/Quinn Rooney)

Australia's Priscilla Hon has survived an incredibly topsy-turvy first round encounter against qualifier Marina Stakusic, who had to be escorted off the court in a wheelchair.

In what was a near-flawless first set by Stakusic to drop just one game in the opening set, Hon was lifted by the home crowd on ANZ Arena to take a 5-2 lead in the second. Although she handed her opponent the chance to level the set at 5-5, it quickly became one-set apiece.

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Trailing 2-3 in the decider, Hon required a medical timeout for a shoulder complaint, but Stakusic was actually the player who ended up worse for wear.

The Canadian limped her way through one of her service games after Hon sought medical attention, barely able to move.

Down 40-0 on Hon's service game, Stakusic conceded the last point to give her enough time to recover for the next game.

However, despite her best efforts, Stakusic collapsed to the ground and was forced to retire due to severe cramping, with the result ending 1-6, 6-4, 5-3.

Hon, to her credit, offered assistance to her struggling opponent as Stakusic left in a wheelchair.

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