LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — American legend Serena Williams’ dreams of winning an eighth Wimbledon singles title and equalling Margaret Court’s Grand Slam record of 24 ended in tears yesterday.

The 39-year-old was leading 3-1 in the first set of her first-round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus when she slipped and had to have her left ankle examined.

She returned from receiving medical attention but called it quits at 3-3 and walked off Centre Court in tears.

It is the first time in 20 appearances that Williams has bowed out in the first round of Wimbledon.

“Brutal for @serenawilliams but centre court is extremely slippy out there. Not easy to move out there,” tweeted British star Andy Murray.

Williams, who also had strapping on her right thigh, hasn’t won a Slam since the 2017 Australian Open.

Earlier, Swiss legend Roger Federer and Australia’s world number one Ashleigh Barty both progressed, but only after overcoming scares.

They at least were able to play to their schedule due to the roof on Centre Court but those on the outside courts had to kick their heels for several hours due to rain.

As a result, 27 singles matches had to be deferred to today and men’s doubles matches will be the best-of-three sets in the first and second rounds as organisers try to get the schedule back on track.

Federer arrived on the back of a disappointing second-round exit at Halle, a tournament he all but owns having won it 10 times, but said he was pumped up for Wimbledon.

The 39-year-old eight-time singles champion looked to be more deflated than pumped up when he trailed Frenchman Adrian Mannarino by two sets to one.

However, already one break up in the fourth and looking more like the Federer of old, the match turned when Mannarino tumbled towards the end of the fourth set.

His fall was at the same end of Centre Court which was also to claim Williams.

His 33rd birthday turned into a nightmare as he had to retire at 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 3-6, 6-2.

“He was the better player, he could have won. I got a bit lucky,” said Federer.

“That’s how it goes sometimes, you don’t get many walkovers and try not to have it happen to yourself.”

Barty came through 6-1, 6-7 (1/7), 6-1 against Carla Suarez Navarro in a match filled with emotion on Centre Court.

Barty’s Spanish opponent made sure her 11th and final appearance at the championships went the distance just months after returning from a winning fight against cancer.

Barty is bidding to add the senior singles Wimbledon title to her 2011 junior crown on the 50th anniversary of her fellow indigenous Australian’s Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s first title.

Barty opened on Centre Court — an honour usually given to the defending champion — due to Simona Halep having withdrawn through injury.

The 25-year-old lost focus when serving for the match in the second set but dominated the third to go through.

However, she joined in the standing ovation for Suarez Navarro as the 32-year-old left the court, with the Spaniard’s mother Maria wiping away a tear.

“She is a fighter, an incredible competitor and lovely person, and I cannot find one bad word to say about her,” said Barty of her opponent.

“She is a genuine champion and will be sorely missed.” 

Stop wasting our time

Russian second seed Daniil Medvedev went through with a 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3) win over Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany.

“I was a bit surprised by the first two sets that I managed to win so easy, that’s why Grand Slams are funny,” said Medvedev.

Australian men’s number one Alex de Minaur lost in four sets to Sebastian Korda, two days after the victor’s sister Nelly won her first golf major.

Frenchman Benoit Paire did not escape the ire of the match umpire in his 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 defeat by Diego Schwartzman.

He received a warning from the umpire for not trying as two sets down overnight he lost the third 6-0 in just 15 minutes.

One spectator was moved to shout at the disinterested Frenchman “Stop wasting our time.”