Madison Keys was the first of two Wimbledon retirements yesterday, departing Court 1 in floods of tears and conceding victory to Jasmine Paolini.
Having lost the first set to the in-form Italian, few gave her a chance once the French Open finalist had established such a stranglehold.
However, winning the second on a tiebreak, and leading 5-2 in the third, it seemed like she had somehow done the impossible.
That was, until disaster struck, and injury saw that lead slip to 5-5, before she had to give up.
Grigor Dimitrov would also be forced to cut his match with Daniil Medvedev short early too later that day.
Madison Keys provides Wimbledon injury update
Taking to X after that heartbreaking retirement, the tennis world waited patiently to hear an update on what exactly was the ailment that forced Keys to pull out from such a key match.
Well, the lack of actual specific information will have only emphasised fears, but by her exit from Court 1 we knew it was severe.
She was inconsolable as she collected her bags and left Paolini to earn the adulation, even if her path into the next round was somewhat tainted.
Keys would write: ‘Well… The ending of yesterday’s match was probably one of my toughest moments ever on court.
‘Unfortunately during the match, I injured my hamstring. I’ll be getting an MRI soon to see exactly what happened and what the severity of the injury is.
‘I have a lot of mixed emotions that my Wimbledon ended like this and really appreciate all the nice messages I’ve gotten. Time to go home and get better.’
Paolini showed her respect as Keys left the court by not celebrating her Wimbledon win with the crowd.
Madison Keys will be back
Whilst at 29 her chances may be limited in the coming years, Keys has come desperately close and likely will do so again before she calls time on her impressive career.
However, she will probably never see a Grand Slam draw open up again like it has done at Wimbledon this year, with the American also having been blessed by being on the easier side of the draw too.
Had she overcome Paolini, as all signs suggested she was going to, an all-American clash with Emma Navarro would have awaited.
Then, beating the 23-year-old would have seen her face one of Donna Vekic or Lulu Sun.
All of these players are in good form, but none are the formidable or unbeatable presence that someone like Aryna Sabalenka or even Elena Rybakina might have been.
Keys will have her chance again, having reached the final of the US Open, the semi-finals of both the Australian and the French Open, and the quarters of Wimbledon during her career.
Hopefully, the opportunity beckons for her to enjoy another deep run where she can avenge yesterday’s fateful injury which curtailed what would have been a miraculous comeback.
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