American tennis player, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, suffered an agonising knee injury after falling during the opening game of the third set of her second round match against Sorana Cirstea today.

Mattek-Sands won the opening set, with Cirstea winning the second set tie-breaker to force the decider. Mattek-Sands was running towards the net to return a shot, when she slipped and landed awkwardly on her knee. She started screaming “Help me” a few times.

Cirstea, who was the first at her side, took one look at the knee and signalled for medical help. Her husband, Justin Sands and her doubles partner, Lucie Safarova, with whom she was hoping to win her fourth straight Ladies doubles title, also joined them on court.

Mattek-Sands was taken to hospital for treatment, leaving behind visibly distressed spectators and players on Court 17.