It appeared Latvia’s Mikelis Libietis and partner Jarryd Chaplin were on their way to winning the doubles title at the Charlottesville Challenger – until disaster struck.
On the point that gave them a 7-6, 4-1 lead over Americans Denis Kudla and Danny Thomas, Libietis’s Achilles gave way on what seemed, at first, a harmless-looking move.
His screams of agony were tough to watch.
The genuine concern from the other three players, as the 25-year-old Tennessee alum lay on the court, was touching.
Libietis hit a career-best No. 174 in the doubles rankings Monday. But he’s looking at a year.