Mystery of Serena Williams' Wimbledon meltdown deepens... with doubts cast over her 'viral illness' explanation



Serena Williams withdrew from ladies doubles event at Wimbledon

Former champion has claimed she was suffering from a viral illness

World No 1 was partnering sister Venus but only lasted three games

Williams appeared disorientated and served four consecutive double faults

Sources claim her vital statistics were normal after visit from court doctor

Medical sources claim bug wouldn't have affected co-ordination in that way



Half-sister Isha Price said that she did not appear ill before the match

Womens No 1 seed has been romantically linked with coach Patrick Mouratoglou in the past - he also said she looked 'fine' before the match

Sister Venus appeared more frustrated than concerned during the incident

Williams took a lengthy layoff after 2010 Championships due to stepping on broken glass at an unidentified Munich restaurant

32-year-old was also reported to have hidden from drug tester visiting her home in 2011, claiming she thought it was an intruder



Serena Williams has departed Wimbledon but the mystery about her bizarre display on Tuesday has deepened, with doubts cast on the ‘viral illness’ explanation.



The world No 1 lasted three games in her doubles match, serving four hopeless double faults in her one service game before defaulting, looking dishevelled and disorientated.



Serena insisted this was due to a ‘bug’, yet according to authoritative sources her pulse, temperature and blood pressure were normal when she received an on-court visit from the doctor.

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Serena Williams: Wimbledon feels like home to me

On the mend: Serena Williams posted an Instagram image of her recovering from the mystery illness

Meltdown: Serena Williams was forced to withdraw from the women's doubles at Wimbledon

Siblings: Serena Williams was playing in the event with her sister Venus (L)

Tearful: The former Wimbledon champion was visibly distressed by the side of the court

Gut feeling: The US tennis professional has blamed a stomach virus for her withdrawal

Out of it: The World No 1 looked dishevelled and disorientated during her brief time on court

Parting shot: Serena Williams lasted only three games before deciding she could not continue

Furthermore, Williams’s half-sister Isha Price told the newspaper USA Today that Serena did not appear ill before the match and she was unaware that any medication was being taken. ‘She seemed emotional, sad, you know what I mean?’ said Price.



Serena’s French coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, added that he had not seen her for two days before the tie. ‘Before the match she was fine,’ he said.



The reaction of her sister Venus during the incident was interesting. The two are incredibly close yet she did not seem massively concerned for her sibling’s well-being, looking instead bemused and frustrated.



Off target: The women's No 1 seed served four consecutive double faults in her service game

Mystery illness: Serena Williams' family and coach said she appeared 'fine' before the match

Something's wrong! Serene and Venus Williams speak to the match official during the game

Mum's the word: Serena's mother Oracene Price (C) watched from the stands

Usually close: Serena's sister Venus (L) appeared bemused and frustrated during the incident

Serena was crestfallen after her third-round exit from the singles on Saturday against France’s Alize Cornet and, referring to her partnership with Venus in its aftermath, said: ‘I suck right now at doubles, I told Venus I am so bad that I don’t even want to play.’



The incident will only heighten speculation about her relationship with Mouratoglou, with whom she has enjoyed a career surge in her early thirties. Although Mouratoglou has never commented on the pair’s romantic involvement, there were reports at the recent French Open that the partnership has become purely professional in nature.



Alternative theories are that she was acting, or was in a highly emotional state and unable to function. As one medical source said, the bug she described would have made her feel ill but not affected her co-ordination in such a way that was evident.

Love match? Serena Williams has been romantically linked with her coach Patrick Mouratoglou (L)

'I suck right now!' Serena Williams was crestfallen after losing in the singles third round to Alize Cornet

Controversy: The 32-year-old was reported to have hidden after a drugs tester visited her home in 2011

Exit strategy: It's not sure if 17-time Grand Slam winner will appear at the Swedish Open next week

It may be that this will be added to the list of mysteries that have sprung up during a long career. In November 2011, at home in Los Angeles, she hid in a panic room after a drug-tester called at her house unannounced. Serena said she believed it was an intruder.



Another is the long injury lay-off after she won Wimbledon in 2010. The explanation was that she had stepped on broken glass in a Munich restaurant, and that the injury required surgery. The restaurant in question has never been identified.

