Wimbledon chiefs under fire
Players blast court conditions, American star Mattek-Sands suffers serious injury
>> LONDON: Wimbledon officials dismissed growing concerns over the state of the All England Club courts yesterday despite baselines on some surfaces already stripped of grass after just four days of the Grand Slam event.
The t ournament’s Court 18, where John Isner and Nicolas Mahut famously played out their three-day match in 2010, has come in for the fiercest criticism.
On Court 17, meanwhile on Thursday, American star Bethanie MattekSands suffered a horrific right knee injury after her leg buckled.
It was not clear, however, whether the state of the surface was a contributing f actor i n the 32-yearold’s accident.
“The court preparation has been to exactly the same meticulous standard as in previous years,” said the All England Club.
“Grass is a natural surface and it is usual for the baselines to start to be showing signs of wear and tear four days into the championships.”
French 12th seed Kristina Mladenovic said there was a hole on Court 18 and that she and opponent Alison Riske had wanted to stop playing.
“The colour of the court, the fact that there’s no more grass, the fact that the baseline where we are running, it’s very slippery. There’s no grass. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s not even clay,” said Mladenovic, who was beaten in three sets.
“There was a huge hole on the sides where the referee came to actually take pictures of it. So it was not even flat.”
Swiss 19th seed Timea Bacsinszky had similar complaints after beating Olympic champion Monica Puig on the same court on Tuesday — just the second day of the two-week long event.
“I’m pretty disappointed about the quality of the grass of this year. Especially on Court 18, I’m not saying it’s dangerous or something, but it was only the second day of the tournament, and it was already ruined,” said Bacsinszky.
“Usually you see that after a week. I take the risk to say it. Sorry, Wimbledon, it’s not against you, but there are improvements to do on this thing. I don’t know what happened.
“Maybe the weather. But I’m curious to see how they’re going to handle the quality of the grass for the next few days, especially with so many matches that need to be played in the next few days and week.”
Seven-time champion Roger Federer said that if both players complained about the state of a court then their concerns should be taken seriously.
“It’s been extremely hot. You should always take the players’ opinion serious, especially when both say it,” said the Swiss star.
Wimbledon courts are no stranger to injury controversies.
In 2013, Victoria Azarenka fell heavily, hurting her ankle and blamed the state of the courts.
At the same event, Maria Sharapova said the surface on Court Two where she lost to Michelle Larcher de Brito was “dangerous” after she fell a number of times.
Mattek-Sands was undergoing more tests on her right knee yesterday following her sickening injury at Wimbledon which left her screaming: “Please, help me, please, please”.
The 32-year-old American was being treated in a nearby private hospital where she was taken on Thursday after her knee appeared to buckle as she approached the net in her second round clash with Sorana Cirstea on Court 17.
“Bethanie is currently undergoing more scans this morning and we should know more within the next few hours,” said the WTA Tour in a statement.
“Bethanie of course thanks everyone for their kind wishes and messages of support.”
Romanian player Cirstea was visibly upset and said her friend’s knee was “out... and in a very weird position”.
“I freaked out. I have never seen such an injury before, the knee was really in a bad position. It was like something you see only in the movies,” said Cirstea.
“I tried to comfort her but I panicked. I felt useless. All she kept saying was ‘Sorana, help me, help me.
“I wish I could have done more. You wouldn’t wish that on your worst enemy.”