“I was heartbroken to have to withdraw today after injuring my right leg,” she said in a statement posted late evening on her Instagram account.

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Perhaps tellingly, she waved to all four sides of the court as she left. However, she gave no indication in the statement of how serious the injury was nor about her future. It is the first time that Williams has bowed out in the opening round of Wimbledon in 20 appearances. 

She had only once previously lost in the first round at any Slam, in the 2012 French Open. The tears said it all as with the withdrawals of 2019 champion Simona Halep and of Naomi Osaka prior to the tournament, the American would have fancied her chances of at last equalling the controversial Court’s landmark. 

Stars lend support

“Brutal for @serenawilliams but centre court is extremely slippy out there. Not easy to move out there,” tweeted British star, Andy Murray. Wimbledon’s 2019 star Coco Gauff, 17, said: “I turned away,” after beating British wildcard Francesca Jones in her first-round match. 

Also Read: Khel Ratna: BCCI to recommend Ashwin, Mithali; Chhetri nominated

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