PHOTOS - SEVEN Players Call-Off Their Time At Wimbledon Due To ‘Dangerous' Courts

Maria Sharapova angrily branded the Wimbledon courts ‘dangerous’ yesterday as a record number of players were forced to drop out through injury in a single day.

The former champion confronted the umpire after slipping three times and buckling her knee during her shock second round defeat in straight sets to an unseeded opponent.

It came as seven players pulled out through injury – a record on a single day at any Grand Slam event – and Andy Murray received a fresh boost in his quest for Wimbledon glory with the departures of Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Rafael Nadal's conqueror Steve Darcis topped a raft of injury withdrawals that have stunned Wimbledon fans on day three.

The Belgian was one of SEVEN players to call time on their championship bid on a dramatic day at SW19. 

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was a high-profile loss as was women’s second seed Victoria Azarenka.
They were joined by Marin Cilic, John Isner, Radek Stepenek and Yaroslava Shvedova - and now questions are being asked about the quality of the playing surface. 

Several other players struggled in their matches after suffering falls including Caroline Wozniacki, who went out to Petra Cetkovska, and former champion Maria Sharapova who lost 6-3 6-4 to Michelle Larcher de Brito. 

All five of the men who pulled out are in Andy Murray’s side of the draw which has boosted the Scot’s hopes of claiming his first Wimbledon title.
But the prospect of facing No 1 seed seed Novak Djokovic in the final still remains.
The Grand Slam record for injury withdrawals in the open era is 17 at the US Open in 2011.

 

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has become the latest casualty at Wimbledon

Victoria Azarenka slipped over against Maria Joao Koehler

Steve Darcis falling on his shoulder in his match against Rafael Nadal

Even world No 1 Novak Djokovic struggled to keep his footing

-daily mail