Serena Williams has exited Wimbledon in tears.
Gatekeepers News reports that seven times Wimbledon winner, Serena Williams has limped out of green court tournament in tears on Tuesday.
Serena’s latest bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles crown ended in injury at her first round of the 2021 Wimbledon.
The American sixth seed in her first round match against unseeded Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich, was clearly in pain on a slippery Centre Court as she sought treatment while 3-2.
She later returned after a long break but the distress was evident.
The 39-year-old winced and wiped away tears before preparing to serve at 3-3 after Sasnovich had pulled back from 3-1 down.
Williams, who started the match with strapping on her right thigh, then let out a shriek and sank kneeling to the grass sobbing, before being helped off the court.
Williams wrote on Instagram, “I was heartbroken to have to withdraw today after injuring my right leg.
“My love and gratitude are with the fans and the team who make being on centre court so meaningful. Feeling the extraordinary warmth and support of the crowd today when I walked on – and off – the court meant the world to me.”
Her opponent, Sasnovich, who practised her serve while Williams was getting treatment, sympathised with the tennis star who had never gone out in the first round at Wimbledon in her previous 19 visits.
Sasnovich said, “I’m so sad for Serena, she’s a great champion. It happens sometimes.”
Roger Federer while expressing shock at Williams’ departure, voiced concern about the surface, with the roof closed on Centre Court on a rainy afternoon.
His first-round opponent Adrian Mannarino of France also retired with a knee injury after a slip in the match immediately before Williams’.
The Eight-times men’s singles champion said, “I do feel it feels a tad more slippery maybe under the roof. I don’t know if it’s just a gut feeling. You do have to move very, very carefully out there. If you push too hard in the wrong moments, you do go down.”
“I feel for a lot of players, it’s super key to get through those first two rounds because the grass is more slippery, it is more soft. As the tournament progresses, usually it gets harder and easier to move on.”
Williams who has been a Wimbledon finalist in her last four appearances has failed in her bid to equal Margaret Court’s record 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
However, the absence of world number two Naomi Osaka and third-ranked Simona Halep has raised hopes for another year to remember the American.
Compatriot Coco Gauff said, “It was hard for me to watch that. She’s the reason why I started to play tennis. It’s hard to watch any player get injured, but especially her.”
