American legend Serena Williams’s dreams of winning an eighth Wimbledon singles title and equalling Margaret Court’s Grand Slam singles record of 24 ended in tears on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old was leading 3-1 in the first set of her first round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus when she slipped and had to have her left ankle examined.
Williams returned from receiving medical attention but called it a day at 3-3 and walked off Centre Court in tears. It is the first time that Williams has bowed out in the first round of Wimbledon.
William’s slip came at the same end of the court as that of Adrian Mannarino which brought a premature end to the Frenchman’s hard fought match with Roger Federer.
Mannarino slipped and fell late in the fourth set and pulled out at the beginning of the fifth set.
Federer remarked he felt that the surface was more slippery when the roof is in use which it had been due to rain earlier on Tuesday.
We're heartbroken for you, Serena.
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 29, 2021
Our seven-time singles champion is forced to retire from The Championships 2021 through injury#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/vpcW1UN78s
Brutal for @serenawilliams but centre court is extremely slippy out there. Not easy to move out there.
— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) June 29, 2021
A standing ovation for the 23-time Grand Slam champ.
— wta (@WTA) June 29, 2021
Wishing @serenawilliams a speedy recovery ❤️#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/8RgYB36Yea
Saddened to see Serena’s Wimbledon end with an injury.
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) June 29, 2021
She’s a champion, and I hope she’s back on the courts soon. https://t.co/zEEtG9YHgk
Serena Williams is in tears as she serves at 3-3.
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) June 29, 2021
She falls again, and retires.
She is in floods of tears as she waves to the crowd.
This absolutely cannot be how her #Wimbledon career ends. It can't. She HAS to come back.
She has to. pic.twitter.com/FQiRgemkda
A sad way to end her time at this year's Championships, the 7-time champ retires due to injury against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) June 29, 2021
See you back on court soon, @serenawilliams.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/W9W6WsMMvU
.@serenawilliams has never been out of #Wimbledon before the 3rd round. pic.twitter.com/iIhX90Xzbu
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 29, 2021
Absolutely heartbreaking! Serena has to retire with injury. Out of Wimbledon. Stunned. 💔💔💔
— Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) June 29, 2021
Got out to Centre Court just in time to see Serena Williams walk off it, abandoning her first round #Wimbledon match due to injury.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 29, 2021
Before she left she stopped to twirl and wave to the crowd, taking a long pause.
Then, as she rounded exit corner, Serena began to double over.
My heart goes out to Serena. So sad 😢
— Melanie South (@melaniesouth) June 29, 2021
There is no athlete I root harder for than Serena Williams. NO ONE. So this was shocking and heartbreaking to watch. She's OUT of #Wimbledon in the first round. Just happened. Tried to fight through an injury, in tears, but couldn't continue.
— T.J. Holmes (@tjholmes) June 29, 2021
Remember Serena Williams like this. pic.twitter.com/O1aSOZUxk0
— Sisa (@BaddieTitan) June 29, 2021
At this point in her life, Serena Williams has nothing left to prove. She has done it all!👑 pic.twitter.com/XhgREaHTDb
— IG: me_siviwe (@me_siviwe) June 29, 2021
