Jasmine Paolini has described her struggles to move after suffering cramp during her two-set win over Angelique Kerber.
Paolini put Italy ahead in her country's United Cup bout against Germany with a 6-4 7-5 scoreline.
Three-time grand slam champion Kerber was making her comeback after 18 months out of the sport but couldn't stop the exciting Italian number one and world number 30.
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Paolini had to overcome a cramp that floored her at 3-2 in the second set with Channel Nine's cameras capturing the discomfort in the back of her calf.
"Once you get a cramp, it's very hard to get them to go away," Casey Dellacqua said on Nine commentary.
"I feel really bad for her, but as you can see, it has been a physical match."
After receiving medical attention, the 27-year-old managed to recover and go on to win the fixture.
Post-match, Paolini revealed the agony she was in after hitting three shots and being forced to move around the baseline when the injury hit her.
"It was the only way to try and win the point (not move too much), because I couldn't move," she said on Nine.
"I tried to take all the 25 seconds to recover, because it was a really tough situation.
"She's (Kerber) unbelievable. It's amazing to see her."
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