Mattek-Sands ‘freaked out’ after devastating knee injury

LONDON — Topranked women’s doubles player Bethanie Mattek-Sands needs surgery after dislocating her right kneecap and rupturing her patellar tendon during a singles match at Wimbledon.

“One of the most painful injuries that I’ve had,” the 32-year-old American said Saturday on Facebook Live, “and I’ve had a few in my career.”

Wearing a black brace on her right leg, Mattek-Sands teared up and took some moments to gather herself as she appeared for 10 minutes, speaking about what she called “an emotional and painful roller coaster the past few days.”

Mattek-Sands arrived at Wimbledon bidding for another Grand Slam doubles title with playing partner Lucie Safarova. The duo had won three major tournaments in a row and five overall.

In singles, Mattek-Sands is ranked 103rd and received a wildcard entry from the All England Club. Facing Sorana Cirstea in the second round Thursday, Mattek-Sands fell to the grass when her right knee buckled as she moved toward the net in the third set’s opening game.

She immediately clutched her knee and, down on the turf, wailed loudly, “Help me! Help me!”

On Saturday, Mattek-Sands said she has not watched video of what happened, adding, “I hate watching sports injuries on TV.”

“All I remember was hearing this pop in my leg, and everything was kind of slow after that. It was just this loud pop,” she said. “I just remember trying to take a step, my leg not being able to hold me, and I just went down. I remember my knee just feeling really tight, and I took a look at it and something was wrong. … Something looked so wrong about it. And I knew it was either dislocated or broken. I think at that point, I kind of freaked out.”

Cirstea climbed over the net to check on Mattek-Sands and attempt to comfort her.

“We’re all competitors on tour, and yet so many of the girls are my friends. And I think in that moment, Sorana was there as my friend,” Mattek-Sands said. “It didn’t really matter we were in the middle of a match. And it means a lot to me. She’s an amazing person.”

Mattek-Sands will travel to New York today to see more doctors but said that she will “be out for a while.”