Yoshihito Nishioka collapsed at the US Open in a frightening scene

A scary scene unfolded on the opening day of the US Open on Monday when Japanese star Yoshihito Nishioka suddenly collapsed during his first round match.

Nishioka was in the fifth set of his match against Miomir Kecmanović when he collapsed to the ground behind the court.

The 28-year-old appeared in agony as he dealt with severe cramping on an extremely wet day at Flushing Meadows.

Outspoken American officials immediately rushed to his aid, and Kecmanović came over to offer some water to Nishioka as he sat by his side.

Nishioka needed a wheelchair to exit court 8 as Kecmanović advanced to the second round due to withdrawal.

“Thank you very much for your support…” Nishioka wrote in Japanese at X. “I was already cramping around 3-3 in the 4th set, and my serve at 5-4 (there) was already cramping. In the final (game), my back was more convulsive than my legs and I couldn’t stand up, and then my legs also convulsed. I had repeated spasms in my shoulder blades, hips, flanks and thighs.

“I started having trouble breathing but with the help of the team I managed to get into a wheelchair and they took me far despite the convulsions. The convulsions did not stop for about an hour, but now they have subsided. My body parts hurt a lot, so I plan to quit doubles and go back to Japan.”

Kecmanović won the first set in a tiebreak before Nishioka — the world number 53 — rallied to win the second and third before dropping the fourth to force a deciding set.

“It’s a shame that it ended so badly and we looked like we could have won the match, but this American (hard-court) season we’ve climbed the rankings and there were a lot of moments that gave us confidence, so we’ll keep doing our best in the Asian season,” Nishioka wrote. “First of all, I can’t wait to see everyone at the Davis Cup.”

Kecmanović will face the 18th-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the second round on Wednesday.