A Tearful Serena Williams Withdraws from Wimbledon First-Round Match Due to Injury, Sister Venus Advances, Along with Federer
(June 29, 2021) Serena Williams became the second victim of a slippery court at Wimbledon’s Centre Court on Tuesday, when she was forced to retire from her first-round match after falling near the baseline and injuring her already taped right thigh. The sixth seed and seven-time champion coming to court with a heavily wrapped right thigh, was attempting to win her 24th major. Her loss to Belarus’ Aliaksandra Sasnovich marked the first time that she had lost in the first round of Wimbledon.
Of course, I am so sad for Serena,” said Sasnovich on court after the match. “She is a great champion. It happens sometimes in tennis. But all the best for her. Best recovery.”
Williams released a statement:
Just the match before hers on Centre Court, Roger Federer advanced to the second round when France’s Adrian Mannarino, hurt his right leg when he slipped near the baseline in fourth set and retired before the fifth set at 6-4, 6-7, 3-6, 6-2.
Told about Williams’ retirement during his news conference, Federer said: “Oh my God, I can’t believe it.”
“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,” Federer said. “But this is obviously terrible.”
Venus Williams won her 90th career match at Wimbledon to advance to the second round beating Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Two years ago, Williams lost to then 15-year-old Coco Gauff. Gauff won her first round match against British Wildcard Francesca Jone 7-5, 6-4.
There was more rain at Wimbledon on Tuesday which forced the cancellation or postponement of many matches. Eighty matches are on the schedule on the Wednesday Order of Play.
More to follow….
