Fran Jones collapses mid-match at Colsanitas Cup in Colombia

In a worrying incident at the Colsanitas Cup in Bogotá, Colombia, British tennis player Fran Jones collapsed during her round of 32 match against Argentina's Julia Riera. The match was taking place after Jones faced a long 24-hour travel day from Brazil, where she had recently won a tournament, to Colombia. Unfortunately, upon her arrival, Jones was unable to practice due to rain, which left her unprepared for the high altitude of Bogotá. When the match resumed, she was two points away from defeat in the third set, trailing 5-3. Just as she attempted to serve, she staggered and fell to the ground, requiring medical assistance to be removed from the court in a wheelchair. Following this incident, Jones and her team conducted assessments to determine the cause of her collapse, discovering that her heart had worked too hard under the challenging circumstances of limited oxygen, which she had not properly acclimated to. Fortunately, she reassured her supporters on social media about her condition, noting that there was no long-term impact expected from the episode. This was not an isolated incident in her career, as it marked the 19th time she had to retire from a match, highlighting the ongoing physical challenges she faces due to a rare genetic condition called Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia, which affects her physical capabilities on the court. She expressed hope for a speedy recovery and her intention to continue developing her game under better circumstances.