Madison Keys retires in tears after calling physio and serving for match twice
Madison Keys retired injured to put Jasmine Paolini in the Wimbledon quarter-final.
Madison Keys was forced to retire from her fourth-round Wimbledon match in tears after trying to serve it out twice and leaving the court for a medical time-out.
The American led 5-2 in the final set and called the physio after dropping two more games to receive treatment. Keys started crying when she returned and tried to seal victory again as she faced two break points.
She retired a few minutes later after Paolini levelled the score at 5-5.
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Keys called the physio at a crucial moment in her fourth-round match after suffering an issue with her left thigh. The 12th seed had already tried and failed to clinch the match at 5-2 in the decider.
And it became apparent that she was injured as the physio rushed to the court before the American had another chance to serve at 5-4. She received some treatment on the court before she was taken away for a full medical time out.
"I think they’re taking the rest of this medical time-out off the court," Johanna Konta said on BBC commentary. "It’s one of those areas that you would look to go for a private room for. You end up getting taped quite high up."
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The 29-year-old returned nearly 10 minutes later with her upper left thigh heavily strapped as co-commentator Katherine Downes speculated whether Keys injured her hamstring. But Keys immediately went 15-40 down as she attempted to book her spot in the quarter-final.
She started crying as she retreated to the baseline to collect more balls and carry on serving. Keys saved one of the break points but Paolini pounced to draw level. And the former US Open finalist eventually had to give in as the umpire announced her retirement to the Court 1 crowd.
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Paolini and Keys shared a warm embrace before the distraught 12th seed limped off the court. Her retirement meant that the Italian advanced 6-3 6-7(6) 5-5 into her first Wimbledon quarter-final.
The world No. 7, who had never won a tour-level match on grass until this year, said: "Now I am so sorry for her, to end the match like this is bad. What can I say? I think we played a really good match, was really tough, lots of up and downs. I am feeling a little bit happy but also sad for her because it’s not easy to win like that but I hope you enjoyed the match."