Serena Williams on Tuesday forced to retire from the 2021 Wimbledon Championships after injuring her right hamstring during the first set of her first round match against Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
It was the second straight retirement to tennis most famous court after Adrian Mannarino twisted his knee as he led two sets against Roger Federer.
“I was heartbroken to have to withdraw today after injuring my right leg. Feeling the extraordinary warmth and support of the crowd today when I walked on and off, the court meant the world to me.” Williams said.
The 23time Grand Slam champion announced over the weekend that she would not be playing in the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo, despite qualifying for the USA team.
According to her coach Patrick Mouratoglou that the injury was to the top of the hamstring. But Williams currently taking to the hospital receiving a treatment.
“Apparently the injury is at the top of her hamstring, in the buttocks. While we may never know for sure what Williams was thinking or feeling at the time. The devastation was clear. It was written all over her face and she didn’t bother to hide it.” Mouratoglou said.
Federer on the other hand, joined a chorus of players who worried that the area on Wimbledon’s center court was extremly slippery after Williams was forced to retire.
“Oh,my God, I cannot believe it. It’s obviously awful that it is back-to-back play and it hits Serena too. You have to go there very, very carefully. If you push too hard at the wrong times, you fall.” Federer said.
Speaking of Mannarino’s injury, Federer said: “It’s awful, it shows that a shot can change the career. He was the best player, so I was a bit lucky.
