Serena Williams Injures Ankle, Retires in First Set of Wimbledon Match

Serena Williams will play only one set at Wimbledon in 2021 after retiring Monday due to an ankle injury.

© Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

Serena Williams’ 20th Wimbledon has ended abruptly.

Williams retired in the first set after she hurt her leg in an opening-round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus.

Williams slipped on the grass while hitting a forehand in the fifth game. She winced and began to walk gingerly, and after losing that game went to the locker room.

She returned to continue, but with the score 3-all, her leg buckled during a rally and she crumpled to the court. Williams rose and cried as she walked to the net to concede.

Serena Williams receives a standing ovation from the crowd at #Wimbledon

Williams was forced to retire in the first round of after sustaining an apparent injury. pic.twitter.com/exFZxJJZGh

— ESPN (@espn) June 29, 2021

A seven-time Wimbledon champion, Williams was again seeking a record-tying 24th major title. Her most recent came in early 2017.

At 39, Williams was still among the tournament favorites. She was the runner-up in 2018 and 2019, and Wimbledon was canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.