– Henry Patten (UK) and Harri Heliovaara (Finland), Wimbledon champions, aim for success at the US Open after facing an unusual challenge.
– They suffered concussions from a head collision during a men’s doubles match in Montreal last month.
– This incident is rare in tennis, which typically does not involve contact injuries.
– The duo was leading 4-2 in a tie-break when the accident occurred due to a poorly executed lob from their opponent, Ben Shelton.
– Both players reported symptoms of mild concussion after the incident, with Patten experiencing nausea and balance issues, while Heliovaara took nearly two weeks to recover fully.
– Despite this setback, they are competing at the US Open, where they have advanced through the first two rounds without losing a set.
– Patten humorously noted that he plays tennis partly to avoid contact, reflecting on the bizarre situation.
– The pair, now the third seeds, will face 11th seeds Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic in the upcoming third round.