Tennis great John McEnroe has condemned US Open officials for allowing Caroline Wozniacki's semi-final with cramping Peng Shuai to end in chaos and controversy at Flushing Meadows.
Shaui departed Arthur Ashe Stadium in a wheelchair after twice collapsing in agony, the first time prompting a 15-minute delay when Wozniacki was left on court practising her serve while the crying Chinese was being treated indoors.
Peng eventually had to quit a few points later while trailing 7-6 (7-1) 4-3 and with Wozniacki serving with the advantage trying to consolidate a break deep into the second set.
But McEnroe and other US commentators said she should have been forfeited much sooner out of safety for Peng and in fairness to Wozniacki.
"I feel sick to my stomach just watching this," McEnroe said before the match was finally stopped.
"This is crazy for letting this happen. It's a black eye. It's absurd.
"I thought I'd seen it all."
With Wozniacki down a break point trying to hold for a 5-3 advantage, Peng was afforded an "off-court evaluation" after suffering cramping in both legs.
McEnroe said Peng shouldn't have been allowed to play on, and certainly not without a penalty, but tournament officials later said the unseeded Chinese - contesting her maiden grand slam final - was not being treated for cramp, which is deemed loss of conditioning, not an injury.
The extreme heat policy was in effect but, despite fears for Peng's health, the 28-year-old was allowed to continue on another day of crushing heat and humidity in New York.
"Peng wanted to go back on court and the trainer and doctor believed she would not endanger herself. She's a highly-trained athlete," said US Open tournament director David Brewer.
"She played a few more points but it was too much for her at the end of the day.
"We need to be mindful of the health care of personnel we care very deeply for.
"She was in distress; she had a heat-related illness."
Wozniacki, who last week earned the US Open's sportsmanship award, said she was unconcerned if the delay broke the rules governing medical timeouts.
The Dane went over to console Peng in her moment of agony.
"It was really hard to watch for me whenever I saw her collapse on the court," Wozniacki said.
"Tennis is great, but the health is more important. I just wanted to make sure she was OK.
"I didn't know the rules. If it's just cramping, then you can't have a medical.
"But whenever it's heat illness, then you're allowed to get treatment for it.
"When she collapsed on the court that second time, I was like, `OK, this doesn't look very good."
Wozniacki said she was also aware of Peng's early life medical dramas.
"I know that she's had heart surgery when she was 13, so that's definitely something that I think she was worried about that as well," she said.
Three hours later, Peng said she was feeling better.
"Safe now," she said.
"It's really tough match and then Caroline always brings a lot of balls back. She's, like, really like tough.
"The heat is really hot, I just try to fight and my body is getting more and more hot and it starts cramping. It's really painful right there."
The world No.39 said it became obvious she couldn't play on.
"I could not really control maybe like myself, my body already," Peng said.
"I think saw that and then (I) have no choice. I want, but I could not."
