Mattek-Sands injury casts cloud over Wimbledon

Wimbledon escaped the thunderstorms on Thursday, but there was a dark cloud hanging over SW19 after Bethanie Mattek-Sands suffered a "sickening knee injury that sparked complaints about the state of the courts at the All England Club and the speed with which the American was treated", reports The Guardian.

The 32-year-old slipped as she played a shot against Romanian Sorana Cirstea and was left writhing in agony on the grass.

Her screams stunned the crowd at Court 17 into silence, and she could be heard crying, swearing and begging for help as Cirstea tried to comfort her.

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It "made for harrowing scenes", says The Times. "She slipped as she approached the net, her right knee buckling underneath her. Cirstea climbed over the net to help Mattek-Sands, who was screaming 'help me', but was taken aback when she saw her opponent's knee."

The All England Club said that a "qualified ambulance technician" was on the scene within a minute, but that did not stop the drama.

"Mattek-Sands could be heard crying and screaming out for help even once the medical support arrived, with the crowd dispersing after it became clear the match was over. Many spectators had been visibly shaken by the events," says the Daily Telegraph.

Some onlookers, including Mattek-Sands's doubles partner Lucie Safarova, were left in tears.

After being treated for 20 minutes on court, police cleared the corridor between Courts 16 and 17 and Mattek-Sands was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Wimbledon later said she had suffered an "acute knee injury", while Cirstea said she believed that her kneecap had dislocated.

Mattek-Sands's horrific injury has highlighted player concerns about safety at the tournament this year.

"Kristina Mladenovic, the number 12 seed from France, also hurt her knee as she slipped on number 18 Court, but thankfully did not suffer a serious injury," says the Times. "She and her opponent, Alison Riske, of America, had asked to stop playing after only two games of their second-round match, and Pam Whytcross, the tournament supervisor, was seen taking pictures of a hole behind the baseline."

Mladenovic said the quality of the courts was "totally different than the previous years", says the paper. But the All England Club insisted that the surfaces were up to scratch.

"The court preparation has been to exactly the same meticulous standard as in previous years," it said. "Grass is a natural surface and it is usual for the baselines to start to be showing signs of wear and tear four days into The Championships."