Great. Ana Ivanovic can’t catch a break. Getting to the second week of Wimbledon was huge for her especially after losing in her opening round match at the Wimbledon warm-up in Eastbourne two weeks ago and basically not getting any matches in before The Championships.
Everything seemed to be on the right track again for Ana. It was until today. In her R16 battle against defending champion, Venus Williams, Ana had to retire while trailing 1-set and 1-0 in the second due to a left thigh injury. She called for a trainer and took an injury timeout prior to retiring and had the thigh heavily taped but it didn’t help. Poor Ana was in tears when she called it quits.
Q. Did you have the problem in the first set?
ANA IVANOVIC: No, no, nothing. I didn’t feel anything up until that point. Over past few days I felt muscle tightness, but that was, you know, normal after playing so much on the grass.
Just when I was serving 30‑40 down in that first game, and after my first serve when I landed I just felt a sharp pain on my inner thigh and I couldn’t step on my leg ever since.
Q. Have you been given any indication yet how serious it is?
ANA IVANOVIC: Unfortunately doctor was not here yet. He’s coming only later in the afternoon. So I’m gonna do the checkups later.
The tennis gods seem to be picking on the ladies of Serbia this year. With JJ’s woman problems coming in just the right time and now this freak injury of Ana’s. Okay, JJ’s was not a valid excuse to lose (if you make an excuse it better be a body part falling off) but you have to feel for Ana.
Image via ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
