Peng Shuai retires from U.S. Open match due to muscle cramps

A strange and troubling situation prematurely ended the first women’s semifinals at the U.S. Open on Friday.

With Caroline Wozniacki leading by a set and serving at 4-3 of the second, her opponent, Peng Shuai of China, started cramping badly. Soon, she was at the back of the court, doubled up against the back wall, appearing unable to move her legs.

Wozniacki waited patiently, but eventually, medical personnel and officials came to Peng’s assistance. Then, inexplicably, she was allowed to be taken off the court for what officials called “off-court medical assessment,” while the score remained on the scoreboard and the match still in progress.

Peng was gone for 10-1/2 minutes, returned while appearing to be barely able to walk, somehow played three more points, including hitting a winner, and then went down again.

While TV commentators criticized tournament officials for letting this linger on so long — John McEnroe said, correctly, “This is nuts” — Peng collapsed at the baseline and soon was surrounded again by officials and medical personnel.

Finally, logic prevailed and the chair umpire announced that Peng could not go on and that Wozniacki had been awarded the match by default.

Wozniacki, showing amazing compassion and patience, never complained about the ill-advised delay and went to Peng to comfort her after the second collapse. She then stood and applauded, as did the fans in Ashe Stadium, as they took Peng off in a wheelchair.

Bill.Dwyre@latimes.com