Serena withdraws from Wimbledon with ankle injury
London, Jun 29 (EFE).- Serena Williams could only make it through six games in her Tuesday duel with Belarus’s Aliaksandra Sasnovich due to an ankle injury that hindered her movement.
The 39-year-old US tennis icon had been one of the favorites in the run for the women’s Wimbledon title, with seven trophies in her display case and her goal of equaling the 24 Grand Slam victories of Margaret Court.
It was when she was up by 3-1 in the first set of the first round, that Serena slipped and turned her ankle, receiving medical attention off the court. When she returned she was having great difficulty moving properly and, although she tried to continue with the match, Sasnovich easily regained the lead and Williams decided to withdraw, the second time she has found herself obligated to pull out of a competition since 2012.
Williams left the court in tears and with help walking.
The humidity in London, along with the need to close the retractable roof of the tennis complex due to rain, made the court more slippery than usual and even Sasnovich slipped once before Williams pulled out.
In other women’s Wimbledon action, Germany’s Angelique Kerber, who won the tourney in 2018, Barbora Kerjcikova, the winner at Roland Garros, and Cori Gauff, the Wimbledon sensation in 2019, all advanced to the second round.
Kerber defeated Nina Stojanovic 6-4, 6-3, while Krejcokova – fresh off her win at the French Open – had no trouble downing Clara Tauson 6-3, 6-2.
Gauff, who got to the quarterfinals two years ago, bested Francesca Jones 7-5, 6-4.
Kerber will now go up against the winner of the match between Spain’s Sara Sorribes and Croatia’s Ana Konjuh, while Krejcikova will meet Germany’s Andrea Petkovic and Gauff will face the winner of the match between Russia’s Elena Yesnina and Italy’s Martina Trevisan.
Spain’s Carla Suarez, meanwhile, was eliminated from the tourney after losing on Tuesday to No. 1-ranked Asleigh Barty, of Australia, 6-1, 6-7(1) and 6-1.
EFE
