Elina Svitolina opens up about Australian Open retirement: ‘I felt like someone shot me in the back’

Elina Svitolina revealed that her fourth round Australian Open exit was due to experiencing a severe pain in her back.

Svitolina was trailing 3-0 when she was forced to retire against 19-year-old Linda Noskova.

After receiving treatment off court, the No. 19 seed returned to court only to lose her serve and tearfully retire from the match.

‘’I got a spasm, or I don't know exactly what it is, but like shooting pain in the first game, the last two points,’’ Svitolina said afterwards.

‘’Yeah, couldn't do anything. Completely locked my back.

‘’Just very sad, of course, so yeah.’’

A fantastic start in Melbourne, which saw Svitolina drop just 13 games in her first three matches, meant she was a strong contender for the title before the freak injury.

While the 29-year-old admitted she has suffered with pain in her back before, she said it had never been as severe as what she experienced against her Czech opponent.

‘’I felt little bit, but it's quite normal. I've been playing some tennis in this tournament already,’’ she said.

"You know, fourth round, you have a little bit stiffness somewhere. Nothing really special. Like not a big issue before.

"This one I think I never had that before, the shooting pain like this.

‘’I had some injuries to my back before where it just was tiredness the next day of the match, but this one was really out of nowhere.

"I felt like someone shot me in the back.’’

The result means Noskova is through to a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time in her career.

‘’Obviously today is not the way I planned to win,’’ Noskova said after the match.

‘’I feel sorry for Elina, hope she gets well soon.’’