America’s Bethanie Mattek-Sands suffered a horror knee injury at Wimbledon on Thursday which left her screaming and crying in pain in the middle of the court.
The 32-year-old collapsed to the ground after damaging her right knee as she approached the net in the first game of the deciding set against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea on Court 17.
“Please help me, please, please,” screamed the 32-year-old in scenes so distressing that television cameras panned away from the stricken player.
Cirstea said she had never seen such an injury.
“I freaked out. I have never seen such an injury before, the knee was really in a bad position. It was like something you see only in the movies,” said Cirstea.
“I tried to comfort her but I panicked. I felt useless. All she kept saying was ‘Sorana, help me, help me.”
Messages of support poured in for Mattek-Sands, with her former doubles-partner Sania Mirza joining in the prayers for a speedy recovery.
I love you @BMATTEK 😞❤️ you are the biggest fighter I know and you will come back stronger than ever ..
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) July 6, 2017
Am just devastated about Bethanie Mattek Sands and her injury today - we are all behind you, hoping for the best- lots of love,m. @BMATTEK
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) July 6, 2017
Feeling so bad to hear for @BMATTEK 😞😘be strong! @Wimbledon when it's not about losing/ winning.. just blessed not to have finished injured! https://t.co/Rlak2Smem6
— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) July 6, 2017
Bethanie Mattek-Sands taken off on a stretcher. Doubles partner Lucie Safarova rushes over in tears. Tough scenes on Court 17. #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/IE3AKtKuVh
— SI Tennis (@SI_Tennis) July 6, 2017
Lucie Safarova in tears after horrible injury to her doubles partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Really grim to hear her in such pain. pic.twitter.com/yQEe2EKYn2
— Graham Henry (@grahamhenry) July 6, 2017
Cirstea's reaction when she rushed to Mattek Sands to help. She came closer and suddenly took a step back, horrified. Lord.
— Carole Bouchard (@carole_bouchard) July 6, 2017
Nooooo @BMATTEK 😱😱😱 please let it be better than it looked and sounded 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 #takecareBeth
— Andrea Hlavackova (@AndreaHlavackov) July 6, 2017
Nooooo @BMATTEK 😱😱😱 please let it be better than it looked and sounded 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 #takecareBeth
— Andrea Hlavackova (@AndreaHlavackov) July 6, 2017
I have no words...🙆🏼🙆🏼 be strong @BMATTEK !!! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼i send all my energy to you 🙏🏼
— Sara Errani (@SaraErrani) July 6, 2017
Omg no no no 😭 This is so heartbreaking 💔 @BMATTEK @Wimbledon
— Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki) July 6, 2017
My heart is going out to Bethanie Mattek-Sands at #Wimbledon right now. Her knee gave out, and her screams for help were chilling. 😞🙏
— Mario Speedwagon (@SilipigniMario) July 6, 2017
.@sorana_cirstea "I'll stay. Stay there." to her team. 👏👏👏 😔 BMS pic.twitter.com/1ltX1xSJFf
— Irina Aldea (@IrinaAldea) July 6, 2017
Very distressing to see a player in a sport like tennis lying on court surrounded by oxygen & stretchers
— Russell Fuller (@russellcfuller) July 6, 2017
Get well soon Bethanie Mattek-Sands