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SPORTS Friday 7 July 2017

Startling screams as Mattek-Sands injures knee at Wimbledon

By HOWARD FENDRICH ers of the U.S. in three sets.
AP Tennis Writer “It’s just about her being
LONDON (AP) — The healthy.”
screams were startling. Mattek-Sands — who was
Bethanie Mattek-Sands, born in Minnesota, lived in
a 32-year-old American Wisconsin and now calls
who came to Wimbledon Arizona home with her
eyeing a fourth consecu- husband Justin — thought
tive Grand Slam doubles about quitting tennis years
title, fell to the grass when ago after a series of injuries.
her right knee buckled as There was hip surgery less
she moved toward the net than a week after her wed-
in a second-round singles ding in late 2008, a torn
match Thursday. shoulder in 2011, a broken
She immediately clutched right big toe in 2012. Her
her knee and, down on the ranking dropped outside
turf, wailed loudly, implor- the top 250 in singles and
ing for someone to “Help doubles in 2014, when she
me! Help me!” missed six months after an-
Her opponent, Sorana Cirst- other hip operation.
ea, immediately climbed “I’m just, like, really hurt for
over the net to check on her,” Safarova said.
Mattek-Sands, who after There was no indication
about 20 minutes was re- Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States returns the ball to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea during that the condition of the
moved from Court 17 on their Women’s Singles Match on day four at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London grass on the court had
a stretcher and taken to a Thursday, July 6, 2017. anything to do with Mat-
hospital. tek-Sands’ fall, but play-
“Her knee was in a very ing game, was not imme- “It’s the peak of her career and a total of five. Safa- ing surfaces around the
weird position. I’ve never diately known. But word right now,” said Bob Bryan, rova heard about Mattek- All England Club were a
seen anything like this, quickly spread around the whose twin brother Mike Sands on TV and ran to her source of complaints by
probably, except in the grounds, generating con- won the 2015 French Open court, then stood nearby others Thursday. In particu-
movies. And, yeah, I pan- cern among players. She’s mixed-doubles title with and wiped away tears as lar, the areas near many
icked a little bit, as well,” popular on tour, known for Mattek-Sands. “She’s a she saw her friend and baselines are brown and
Cirstea said. “Then I called her gregarious personal- fun-loving girl. She doesn’t playing partner in distress. worn, with little or no grass
for help, but no one was ity, loud laugh and original have any enemies in the “Just terrible what hap- in spots — looking the way
coming. Then tried to com- fashion choices, including locker room.” pened. Obviously, I’m very Wimbledon’s courts usually
fort her as much as I could. the stars-and-stripes knee- She’s also quite a doubles sad for her. Doesn’t mat- do by late in Week 2, not
But, I mean, you could feel high socks she wore while player, ranked No. 1 right ter about whatever goals as soon as Day 4 — some-
the pain.” teaming with Jack Sock to now after teaming with Lu- we had,” Safarova said, thing players said they
The extent of Mattek- win a mixed-doubles gold cie Safarova of the Czech her voice barely above a were told was a result of
Sands’ injury, which came medal for the U.S. at last Republic to win the past whisper, after losing her sin- unusual heat and lack of
in the third set’s open- year’s Rio Olympics. three major championships gles match to Shelby Rog- rain in recent weeks.q
Rahm upstages McIlroy, shoots

65 at Irish Open

PORTSTEWART, Northern Ire- Daniel Im of the United breakthrough season, to
land (AP) — Rising Spanish States, ranked No. 542, play in Europe ahead of
star Jon Rahm upstaged and Benjamin Hebert of the British Open at Royal
tournament host Rory Mc- France, ranked No. 254, Birkdale from July 20-23. He
Ilroy at the Irish Open by held the lead after shoot- tied for 10th at the French
shooting a 7-under 65 to ing bogey-free 64s. McIlroy, Open last week and is now
move one stroke off the the defending champion in contention in Ireland,
first-round lead on Thurs- and part of a heavyweight another event in the Eu-
day. Rahm, ranked No. 11, group containing Rahm ropean Tour’s Rolex Series
showed impressive form and Hideki Matsuyama, with a prize fund of $7 mil-
on the links two weeks out parred his last 11 holes and lion. He holed a long birdie
from the British Open, roll- was even par at a tour- putt on No. 1 and followed
ing in six birdies and an ea- nament which benefits up a bogey and two bird-
gle on a low-scoring day at his own foundation. The ies by rolling in a 20-foot
Portstewart. He was tied for No. 2-ranked Matsuyama eagle putt on the 7th. He
third place with Englishmen shot 67. Rahm has taken a birdied both par fives on
Matthew Southgate and break from the PGA Tour, the back nine before a fi-
Oliver Fisher. where he is enjoying a nal birdie on the 15th.
“My attitude was probably
the best it’s been all year,”
Jon Rahm of Spain tees off during the first day of the French
Open Golf tournament at Paris National course in Guyancourt, said Rahm, who is known
west of Paris, France, Thursday, June 29, 2017. for his fiery temperament.
Associated Press q