Serena Williams Forced To Retire From Wimbledon Match Due To Injury: I’m Heartbroken

Serena Williams Forced To Retire From Wimbledon Match Due To Injury: I’m Heartbroken

Serena Williams has broken her silence after she was forced to retire from a match after an injury.

The tennis all-star suffered a leg injury during the first-round Wimbledon match against Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich yesterday (June 30th). It caused her to retire from the match, marking only the second time she’s had to do so in her entire career.

We're heartbroken for you, Serena.

Our seven-time singles champion is forced to retire from The Championships 2021 through injury#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/vpcW1UN78s

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 29, 2021

She wrote on Instagram,

“I was heartbroken to have to withdraw today after injuring my right leg. My love and gratitude are with the fans and the team who make being on centre court so meaningful. Feeling the extraordinary warmth and support of the crowd today when I walked on – and off – the court meant the world to me.”

The injury comes just after she announced she wouldn’t be participating in the Olympics this year.

She said ahead of her Wimbledon match earlier this week,

“I’m actually not on the Olympic list… not that I’m aware of. And if so, then I shouldn’t be on it.”

She continued,

“There’s a lot of reasons that I made my Olympic decision. I don’t really want to… I don’t feel like going into them today. Maybe another day. Sorry.”

“In the past [the Olympics have] been a wonderful place for me, but I really haven’t thought about it, so I’m going to keep not thinking about it.”