Defending champion Elena Rybakina praised for sporting gesture following 'horrible' Alize Cornet injury
Defending Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has won widespread praise for her touching moment of sportsmanship when her second round opponent Alizé Cornet suffered an agonising injury.
Having lost the first set, Cornet was taking Rybakina to task in the second, with the pair locked at 5-5 and at the 11th deuce.
Off Rybakina's serve, Cornet's return went high and she wrong-footed herself and slipped when changing direction. Her right knee looked to buckle awkwardly as her bodyweight came down on it.
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Elena Rybakina attends the injured Alize Cornet in their Wimbledon match. Nine
She immediately grasped at her right hip and stayed face-down on the grass for several seconds. Rybakina raced over and appeared genuinely concerned for her 33-year-old opponent.
Cornet would eventually get to her feet before taking a lengthy medical timeout. Her right leg was already heavily-strapped, and it had even more tape when she returned to the court, clearly determined to finish the match.
Astonishingly, with her mobility clearly limited, Cornet somehow managed to hold serve in the following game to force a tiebreaker, which she would lose.
"I started the match good and I think I had good energy also but in the second it became a bit tougher," Rybakina said after the match.
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"I was not pushing as good with the legs, it was a long game also Alizé had the fall. It was a tough match but I'm happy to win in two sets and get to the next round."
Rybakina will also have to battle the crowd when she takes on her next opponent, local favourite Katie Boulter.
"Of course I understand the crowd won't be on my side this time, but hopefully it is going to be a good match," she said.
"I hope the crowd enjoys it and I hope it's going to be a good one."
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