Japanese tennis star Yoshihito Nishioka collapses on court during US Open match and leaves match in wheelchair

The final set of a thrilling first-round match at the US Open between Japanese star Yoshihito Nishioka and Serbian Miomir Kecmanović was overshadowed by a health scare.

Nishioka suddenly fell to the ground near the baseline in the fifth set. He was in visible pain and remained on the court at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for several minutes.

Nishioka appeared to be battling severe cramps early in the game as temperatures in the New York borough of Queens climbed above 30 degrees on Monday. A heat warning for the region remains in effect until Tuesday night.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Medical staff and trainers provided Nishioka with water while they treated the 28-year-old. Nishioka eventually required the assistance of a wheelchair to leave the field.

NICK KYRGIOS SAYS IT’S ‘RIDICULOUS’ THAT WORLD NUMBER 1 JANNIK SINNER WAS NOT SUSPENDED FOR PROHIBITED

He had to give up the match, allowing his opponent to advance to the second round of the Grand Slam tournament. Kecmanović will face Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the next round on Wednesday.

Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan celebrates a point against Miomir Kecmanović of Serbia during a men’s singles first round match of the 2024 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 26, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Nishioka later confirmed that he had been cramping in the fourth set of the match before several spasms occurred.

“Thank you for your support…” Nishioka wrote in a post translated from Japanese to English on X. “I started having cramps in the fourth set at around 3-3 and my serve was already cramping at 5-4 (there). In the final (match), I had more cramps in my lower back than in my legs and couldn’t get up, and then my legs started cramping too. I had repeated cramps in my shoulder blades, hips, flanks and thighs.

Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan competes against Miomir Kecmanović of Serbia during the men’s singles first round match of the 2024 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 26, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images)

“I had difficulty breathing, but with the help of the team I was able to get into a wheelchair and they carried me away despite my cramps. The cramps didn’t stop for about an hour, but now they have subsided. My body parts are very sore, so I plan to skip the double exams and return to Japan.”

Nishioka entered the match ranked number 53 in the world. After losing the first set to Kecmanović, Nishioka was able to catch up in the second and third sets. Kecmanović came back in the fourth set and forced a fifth set.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Nishioka expressed optimism about his prospects in the Davis Cup, an international team competition.

“It’s a shame that it ended so badly and it looked like we could have won the match, but in this American (hard court) season we have risen in the rankings and there have been many moments that have given us confidence, so we will do our best in the Asian season as well,” Nishioka wrote. “First of all, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the Davis Cup.”

Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand subscribe the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.