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Serena Williams had to give up her first round match at Wimbledon after an injury
Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP
Tennis star Serena Williams had to retire in the first round of Wimbledon.
The 39-year-old American injured herself in the first set against Alexandra Sasnowitsch from Belarus and withdrew when the score was 3: 3.
After an injury break, Williams initially came back, but then apparently screamed in pain in a rally and fell on the lawn.
The former long-time number one in the tennis world is the winner of 23 Grand Slam titles and wanted to win the long-awaited 24th title at one of the four most important tournaments at the lawn classic in order to catch up with record winner Margaret Court.
Also there are Angelique Kerber, who seems to have regained her shape just in time for the grass season, and Andrea Petković.
Kerber, who won her only Grand Slam title to date in the final against Williams at Wimbledon 2018, prevailed 6: 4, 6: 3 against the Serbian Nina Stojanović.
Petković also won 6: 4, 6: 3 against the Italian Jasmine Paolini.
Kerber and Petković are the only Germans in round two, Mona Barthel failed 7: 6 (7: 2), 3: 6, 3: 6 against the Chinese Zhu Lin.
cev / dpa