Weeping beauty Ivanovic hobbles out

Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic hobbled out of the championship in tears on Monday after conceding her fourth-round match against defending champion Venus Williams.

Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic hobbled out of the championship in tears on Monday after conceding her fourth-round match against defending champion Venus Williams.

The 13th-seeded Serbian, who had been swept aside 6-1 in 30 minutes in the first set, called for the trainer in the first game of the second.

While defending champion Williams sat impassively in her chair with a towel wrapped around her shoulders, Ivanovic was treated on the grass with the trainer flexing her left leg.

“Her thigh was then bandaged and after a 10-minute break and three Mexican waves from the spectators on Court One, the match resumed.

Ivanovic served out the game but was struggling badly and signalled to the umpire that she was unable to carry on.

“I felt a sharp pain in my inner thigh and I couldn't stand,” Ivanovic said.

“Over the past few days I have felt muscle tightness but that's normal after playing so much on grass.”

She said she would be seeing a doctor later in the day to find out exactly what the injury was.