Serena Williams weeps as injury shatters 24th Grand Slam dream

Tennis legend Serena Williams wept profusely at Wimbledon on Tuesday as an ankle injury shattered her hopes of a record equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

Williams was serving 3-3 in the first round when she decided to abandon the match, by gifting victory to Belarussian Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Williams had broken Sasnovich and led 3-1, appearing to be in full control of the contest on Centre Court.

But she suffered an ankle injury in the fifth game after seeming to slip while playing a forehand.

With her movement clearly limited, Sasnovich broke back and Williams left the court for treatment as she took a medical timeout.

She re-emerged to huge applause and bravely tried to continue but was visibly in severe discomfort.

She could not hold back tears as she limped to the centre court to retire from the match.

ESPN reports that the 39-year-old Williams entered the tournament in search of her 24th major title, which would have tied her with Margaret Court for the most ever.

She last won a Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2017 and has made four finals since returning from child birth, including at Wimbledon in 2018 and 2019.

She made the semifinals at the Australian Open earlier this year, as well as the fourth round at the French Open last month.