Serena Williams had one misfortune after another at this year’s Australian Open. In the first round match, Williams took home a win of 6-0, 6-0 after collapsing to the court from injuring her right ankle. Williams returned to play her second-round match against Spanish teen Garbine Muguruza in 100-degree weather and whacked herself in the mouth with her racket during the first set.
“I think it happens to everyone, but I have never busted it wide open like that. So, yeah, I was like, oh, no! I can’t have a tooth fall out. That would be horrible. I don’t know why my racket was even in my face. I mean, it’s like I have been playing tennis far too long to hit myself” said Williams.
In the end Williams continued to rally winning 6-2, 6-0, by firing a 128-mph ace for the match point but Williams continued to struggle and after chasing down a drop shot in the second Williams began feeling pain in her lower back which she believes aided in her loss of 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to 19-year-old Sloan Stephens. Although critics seem to think that the 31 year old Williams has lost her steam she still has a chance of reclaiming the No. 1 World ranking if defending champion Azarenka fails to hold her title or if Maria Sharapova loses the semifinal against Li Na. Williams spoke to reporters regarding her No.1 ranking saying that “I am more focused on winning three more singles to take my career total to 50. Number 1 is awesome if I get it. Like I said, I think I’ll get there one day but if not, I’ve had it before, so it is what it is.”
Check out some of Serena’s worst Australian Open injuries below.
