Tennis: American Bethanie Mattek-Sands collapses in agony with hurt knee

Injured Bethanie Mattek-Sands is comforted on court. Photo / AP

American Bethanie Mattek-Sands was yesterday carried off on a stretcher after suffering a sickening injury at Wimbledon which saw her cry out "help me" as she lay on the turf.

The 32-year-old's knee appeared to buckle under her as she slipped during her second-round match with Romanian Sorana Cirstea on Court 17.

Mattek-Sands screamed out for help as she lay on the grass in front of horrified spectators.

She was attended to by paramedics on court.

Mattek-Sands had won the first set 6-4 and lost the second on a tie-break moments before the fall occurred.

Cirstea climbed over the net to check on Mattek-Sands and was evidently upset by what she saw. She was later seen in tears at courtside.

Mattek-Sands could be heard crying and screaming out for help even once the medical support arrived, with the crowd dispersing after it became clear the match was over.

Many spectators had been visibly shaken by the events.

Mattek-Sands was taken by ambulance to hospital.

A wildcard entry to the singles at Wimbledon, Mattek-Sands is a doubles specialist and in tandem with Lucie Safarova has won the last three grand slam titles, at the US Open, Australian Open and French Open.

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli sent Mattek-Sands her best wishes, tweeting an image of Mattek-Sands alongside her doubles partner Safarova.