-
All-time great limps off Centre Court with painful ankle injury after just six games of first-round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich
-
American in tears as she waves goodbye, still in search of her 24th slam success
Serena Williams’s hopes of matching Margaret Court’s record 24 grand-slam singles titles reached an emotional, premature end on Tuesday night when she was forced to retire injured just six games into her first-round match with Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Crying as she attempted to serve through what appeared to be an ankle injury, Williams tumbled to the ground and, with a shriek, had no option but to throw in the towel. A sad end to a quest that was eagerly anticipated to be one of the storylines of the tournament.
Williams had entered the match with hefty strapping on her right thigh, but the freak injury was unconnected. Just after gaining the upper hand to move 3-1 up with an early break of Sasnovich’s serve, Williams slipped while hitting an innocuous forehand midway through her own follow-up service game, prompting an immediate grimace.
For some time she stood stock still, staring at the ground in alarm, before meekly serving out – and losing – the remaining two points, then calling the trainer onto court and departing with her for treatment.
The extent of the limp when she returned a few minutes later told a story of its own. Williams could barely walk, let alone move even vaguely freely.
She attempted to carry on, but was powerless to prevent Sasnovich holding serve and, by the time it was the American’s service game, the tears were flowing.
Retirement was the only option and capped a shocking hour on Centre Court after France’s Adrian Mannarino had slipped and injured his knee in the preceding match when a set to the good against Roger Federer. Like Williams, he was forced to withdraw.
The two retirements prompted Andy Murray to speak out, writing on social media: “Brutal for Serena Williams but Centre Court is extremely slippy out there. Not easy to move out there.”
Speaking on court immediately after her sudden triumph, Sasnovich, the world No 100 from Belarus, said: “I’m so sad for Serena. She’s a great champion. It happens sometimes in tennis but all the best for her recovery.”
This was so far from what the Wimbledon crowd had hoped for when they settled into their seats. It is 23 years since Williams first graced SW19 for her debut at a tournament that has proved the most successful of her career.
Yet for all that vast experience it was not only the playing surface that may have been feeling a touch green for this first-round encounter, given Williams had not played a match on grass for two years.
She has cut down her tournament time significantly since then, focusing so fully on grand slams that she did not even prepare for this opener with a single competitive match since losing in the fourth round of the French Open earlier this month. She has also opted to miss the Olympics in favour of peaking for the US Open.
For four years now, Court’s record has sat tantalisingly within touching distance but persistently elusive. Williams’ own tally has remained stubbornly stuck on 23 ever since giving birth to her daughter Olympia in September 2017.
As the years go by – and she creeps closer to her 40th birthday in September – the sense of haste only increases. This will be the record-breaking slam. Or this one. Or this.
A finalist on her past two visits to the All-England Club and unbeaten before finals weekend since 2014, every summer there remains a sense that Wimbledon is the most likely place to deliver the goods – this year perhaps even more so than usual.
Not only does the speed of the court aid her big serve and allow her to shorten points, but the absence of Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka had appeared to give Williams an opportunity she perhaps will never be granted again.
It all meant her high standing – and the expectation that comes with it – rather defied her official status as sixth seed at this tournament, although speaking on the eve of competition, she insisted that is nothing new.
“I’ve had a big X on my back since ’99, since I won the US Open,” she said. “When players play me that hard every single tournament, every single match, every single grand slam, it just doesn’t matter where, you just get better.”
Unfortunately, Sasnovich barely even had the chance to do so. The tennis world will hope this is not the last we see of Williams at Wimbledon.
07:30 PM
Serena’s not the first person to slip on Centre Court
Quite a few have during the first two days – including Andy Murray (as his tweet illustrates). The match before Serena’s sad exit Roger Federer’s opponent Adrian Mannarino was forced to retire in the fifth and final set after he fell awkwardly on the famous (but clearly slippery) turf.
07:20 PM
Andy Murray on Serena’s exit
07:14 PM
Serena’s painful stumble
07:04 PM
Sasnovich, into the second round, speaks about Serena’s sorry exit
“It was such a nice atmosphere but I am so sad for Serena. She’s a great champion and I wish her the best.”
07:00 PM
Serena waves goodbye
Let’s hope not for the last time – she’s an all-time great, possibly the greatest tennis player ever, and even if she doesn’t reach the magic mark of 24 slam success she deserves to leave the Centre Court in a manner better than that.
06:57 PM
Serena retires injured…at 3-3
Serena is in tears – this is horrible to watch. She somehow takes the first point and the crowd are willing her on. Then during the third point she collapses in pain…she’s in tears and cannot continue.
WHAT A SHAME
06:55 PM
Williams* 3-3 Sasnovich (*denotes next server)
Sasnovich knows what she’s doing, she plays a drop shot first up for a winner, trying to make the American move and test that ankle. Serena is trying to end points quickly – going for broke. She does well to get to 40-30 (two big forehands helping her out) but Sasnovich holds and Serena is in trouble. Let’s see how she can serve.
06:51 PM
Serena returns to the court
But is limping…this doens’t look good BUT she will continue…fingers crossed.
06:50 PM
More second-day drama
06:49 PM
Serena is having a medical timeout
Let’s hope she’s just getting more strapping and can continue.
06:47 PM
Serena is going off to receive more treatment
The BBC commentators are wondering whey she’s doing that rather than not being seen to on court.
This would be a horrid way for her bid to reach 24 end once again…
06:45 PM
Serena asks for the trainer
We’re seeing a replay and she slipped on her left ankle – ouch…
She’s got heavily taped ankles as it is…
06:44 PM
Williams 3-2 Sasnovich* (*denotes next server)
Sasnovich is getting good depth on her returns and Serena is unsettled. The Belarusian has the early advantage at 15-30 and something looks wrong with Serena – has she landed uncomfortably? She’s not moving well on her serve…Sasnovich breaks with a backhand down the line and Serena has asked for the trainer…
06:41 PM
Williams* 3-1 Sasnovich (*denotes next server)
Serena hits a withering return off a short Sasnovich backhand. But the Belarusian illustrates she has a backhand to die for as well and next up she plays a brilliant crosscourt winner – she’s not playing like the world No.100. Serena, however, is playing some great groundstrokes as a forehand winner earns her two break points. Sasnovich saves the first, before a long backhand from Serena makes it deuce. Serena earns another break point next up (a Sasnovich forehand into the net) but once again the American cannot capitalise. Serena is, however, brutal with her backhand return and that earns her her fourth break point and it is very much fourth time lucky as she breaks the Belarusian
06:33 PM
Williams 2-1 Sasnovich* (*denotes next server)
Sasnovich certainly isn’t overawed – she’s taking on Serena’s serve and showing she’s up for a fight. But it take more than heart to break the all-time great’s serve – she has such a great variety of serve and that’s on display here as she holds to 30.
06:30 PM
Williams* 1-1 Sasnovich (*denotes next server)
Sasnovich is targeting Serena’s forehand already, she’s come out with a positive attitude and doesn’t look fazed at all. She hits the first ace of the match and a delightful drop shot winner en route to holding to 30.
06:26 PM
Williams 1-0 Sasnovich* (*denotes next server)
Serena serves first and nails her first four serves. Sasnovich moves around the court well and gets it to 30-30. But Serena’s serve is solid and takes the first game without any dramas.
06:17 PM
Is Serena running out of time?
It’s been over four years since Serena Williams won the last of her 23 grand slam singles titles. She’s been stuck on that figure – one behind Margaret Court’s record – and there is a feeling that time is running out for the all-time great.
She is without a Wimbledon title in five years and during that time has been a beaten finalist twice – Angelique Kerber in 2018 and a year later to Simona Halep, losing both in straight sets.
But she arrives in SW19 with certain things in her favour and despite recent grand slam failures there are reasons to be positive. Halep, the reigning champion, tore her left calf muscle in May, and has had to pull out of the tournament. Added to that another possible champion, Naomi Osaka is also not here, having decided to not compete after dropping out of the French Open.
This afternoon’s match should ease her into the tournament. Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who defeated two-time champion Petra Kvitova on her way to the fourth round in 2018.may have beaten two-time champion Petra Kvitova on her way to the fourth round in 2018, but ranked 100 should offer up little to worry the sixth seed.
From there a possible third round meeting with Kerber awaits.
She comes into Wimbledon as under the radar as it is possible for a 23-slam champion to do so – the fear factor she exerted in the past diminishing with every year without slam success. As with Roger Federer there is a sense that this could be her last chance to win Wimbledon – whether that gives her the fear, and inhibits her, or the freedom to play her shots, time will tell.
What’s not in doubt is that she is a true sporting great and anytime we get the chance to watch her in full flow is something to cherish – there is also the chance she may well go on and lift the trophy in two weeks’ time.
Find out if that’s likely by staying here and following her opening match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
12:56 PM
Serena must rediscover her winning ‘mindset’
By Uche Amako
Serena Williams must rediscover the mindset that led her to 23 Grand Slam singles titles if she’s to overcome her slump at the majors, according to coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
The American begins her latest attempt at a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam when she steps onto Centre Court against Aliaksandra Sasnovich today.
The last time Williams played at Wimbledon, she was comprehensively outplayed by Simona Halep in the final in 2019.
That was one of four Grand Slam finals she’s failed to win since returning to the sport in 2018 following the birth of her daughter Olympia.
Nevertheless, Williams is one of the favourites to lift the Wimbledon title for the eighth time and Mouratoglou believes there’s no one in the women’s draw that can stop her if she retrieves the missing piece of the mental jigsaw.
“It is all about Serena,” he told Telegraph Sport. “When she’s ready physically to compete at the highest level and has the mindset that made her who she is, she’s still unstoppable. But this has been missing the last few years.
“Serena hasn’t been able to show the competitiveness of the ‘real Serena’ in the matches she has needed to in finals or semi-finals like the match against Naomi [Osaka] at the Australian Open.
“Naomi is an incredible competitor but if Serena is able to play and think like Serena I don’t think anyone can stop her.
“What’s missing is the ‘Serena mindset’. It is something that’s happened since she became a mother. She still has it somewhere in herself, she just needs to get it back.
“And how to get this rage that makes her such an incredible competitor when she needs it. It helps her a lot when she can show her emotions. She’s not getting the tool that she needs when she needs it.”