Victoria Azarenka of Belarus plays a return to Maria Joao Koehler of Portugal during their Women’s first round singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Monday, June 24, 2013. AP Photo
LONDON — World number two Victoria Azarenka was reduced to tears at Wimbledon on Monday after suffering a right leg injury during her first round match against Maria Joao Koehler.
Azarenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, was leading 6-1, 1-0 on Court One when she slipped while trying to move into position after serving.
The Belarusian collapsed in agony and immediately began to cry before shouting out ‘oh my god’.
With popstar boyfriend Redfoo looking on anxiously from the players’ box, Azarenka was comforted by the umpire and the tournament supervisor before a doctor arrived to examine the injury during a medical time-out.
After a delay of around 10 minutes, the 23-year-old continued playing but with her right knee heavily strapped.