After suffering a scary right knee injury, Bethanie Mattek-Sands was forced to retire from her second-round match at Wimbledon on Thursday.
Mattek-Sands, the No. 1-ranked doubles player in the world, was tied at a set apiece in her singles match against Sorana Cirstea when Mattek-Sands went down. As she charged the net in the opening game of the third set, she fell to the ground and immediately grabbed her knee while screaming for medical attention.
Players past and present took to Twitter to express their sympathies for Mattek-Sands.
Nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova was devastated by Thursday's news.
Am just devastated about Bethanie Mattek Sands and her injury today - we are all behind you, hoping for the best- lots of love,m. @BMATTEK
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) July 6, 2017
Fellow American CoCo Vandeweghe sent a simple message.
Prayers to @BMATTEK https://t.co/soI0CbOWgN
— CoCo Vandeweghe (@CoCoVandey) July 6, 2017
Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli tweeted photos of Mattek-Sands with doubles partner Lucie Safarova.
That s how I love to see u love, holding a trophy with @luciesafarova and smiling and you will be back soon there!! All my π to u champ pic.twitter.com/7QZjyQQaCP
— Marion bartoli (@bartoli_marion) July 6, 2017
Sabine Lisicki was heartbroken by Mattek-Sands' untimely exit.
Omg no no no π This is so heartbreaking π @BMATTEK @Wimbledon
— Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki) July 6, 2017
Sara Errani offered her support to Mattek-Sands.
I have no words...ππΌππΌ be strong @BMATTEK !!! πͺπΌπͺπΌπͺπΌi send all my energy to you ππΌ
— Sara Errani (@SaraErrani) July 6, 2017
Illan Ireland is an editorial intern for ESPN.com.