MADISON KEYS broke down in tears before being forced to retire with an injury while on the brink of a place in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
The American, 29, led Jasmine Paolini 5-2 in their deciding third set, before appearing to suffer an issue in her groin area.
Keys immediately winced and grabbed her leg after appearing to tweak something while serving down break point.
Paolini, 28, won the point to break, before quickly holding to serve to get the match back to 5-4.
The physio was then called to take a look at Keys at the change of ends, before the former US Open finalist was taken off court for an official medical time out.
Following a nine minute delay the match resumed, with Keys serving for it for a second time.
Immediately it became clear that she could not move properly, and she won just three more points before retiring.
As her Wimbledon dream began to fade, Keys’ heartache was clear for all to see.
The crowd attempted to rally around her, as she burst into tears while trying to continue.
After Paolini broke for 5-5, Keys took a heartbroken look at her box, which included boyfriend and former ATP pro Bjorn Fratangelo.
Keys won what would turn out to be the final point of the match, to go to 0-15, but then decided that the pain was too much – walking to the net to concede the contest.
She and Paolini then shared a hug, with the recent Roland Garros finalist clearly feeling for her wounded opponent.
After the match, the Italian said in her on court interview: “I’m very sorry for her. It’s sad. Really good match. Really tough, lots of up and downs.
“I feel a bit happy but also sad for her because it’s not easy to win like that. I hope you enjoyed the match.
“Rollercoaster. I started really well and was really focused on court but she’s a great player and she raised her level so it was tough to return balls. I was repeating to stay in there, you never know in tennis.
“At the end somehow, I know she retired, but I’m here with the win.
“I hope so. I love this court. Thank you for the support and for all the Italians that are here there are so many. I’m enjoying it a lot.”
Paolini will now face either Coco Gauff or Emma Navarro in the quarter-finals.
Gauff and Navarro are set to do battle last on Centre Court later today.
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