LADIES SECOND SEED Victoria Azarenka was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon this afternoon after a knee injury sustained in her opening round win failed to heal in time.

The Belarussian was due to play Flavia Pennetta on Centre Court for a spot in the third round but pulled out of the clash minutes before she was due out for her warm-up.

Here is how the Australian Open champion ruptured her right knee in her opening round win over Maria Joao Koehler. Warning: video contains high-pitched scream:

YouTube credit: ESPN

Steve Darcis, who beat Rafa Nadal in the Men’s First Round, was also forced to withdraw from the tournament today. The world number 135 was due to play Lukasz Kubot in the second round but a shoulder injury has put paid to such hopes.

Darcis told AFP, “I think when you beat a guy like Rafa in the first round, you want to show more, you want to play more matches. I was playing maybe the best tennis in my life here. So not to go on the court today, it’s the biggest disappointment I have had.”

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