Turkish doubles player Zeynep Sönmez retired from her match at Court No. 6 after tripping over a courtside advertising board during a point. She required 2 stitches for minor injuries and called for immediate removal of the boards, asking why player safety must wait until someone suffers serious harm.

The incident echoes Thursday's similar fall by British player Katie Boulter, who also tangled with the Lacoste-branded boards. Both players voiced frustration on social media, questioning tournament organizers' response to a clear safety hazard that multiple athletes have now encountered.

Four-time champion Iga Swiatek acknowledged the problem needs addressing, suggesting the boards could be relocated or redesigned. Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk revealed she avoided chasing a deep lob in her previous match specifically to prevent injury, highlighting how players are now altering tactics due to equipment placement.

Tournament officials said they've raised the issue with umpires but offered no timeline for changes. The repeated incidents suggest inadequate risk assessment for clay court dimensions, where higher bounces require players to retreat further behind the baseline than on other surfaces.