WIMBLEDON, England — American wild-card entry Bethanie Mattek-Sands injured her right knee during a point Thursday and retired from her second-round match at Wimbledon.
Moving up toward the net in the opening game of the third set against Sorana Cirstea of Romania, Mattek-Sands slipped and fell. She immediately clutched her right knee. She could be heard screaming in pain and sobbing. (Warning: Video below may be distressing.)
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Mattek-Sands stayed down in the middle of Court 17 and was attended to by medical personnel.
Cirstea climbed over the net to help Mattek-Sands when the American started to yell for help.
The 32-year-old Mattek-Sands is ranked No. 1 in women’s doubles. She and her partner, Lucie Safarova, have won three consecutive Grand Slam doubles titles, including at the French Open last month.
Safarova, who was preparing to play her own singles match, was seen on the court in tears for her friend.
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Safarova, the No. 32 seed in singles, ended up losing to Shelby Rogers of the U.S. 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3
Wimbledon tweeted a statement saying Mattek-Sands had been transported to a nearby hospital.