Venus Williams cries out in pain when she slips and injures her knee at Wimbledon

Venus Williams was left screaming in pain and clutching at her knee after slipping on the grass for just three matches during her return to Wimbledon on Monday afternoon.

The 43-year-old American, who returned for her 24th singles appearance at The Championships, will face difficult opposition in the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.

But things turned ugly with the score only 2-1 in the first set when Williams came into the net to play a volley, slipping on the grass and extending her already tied knee.

There were audible cries from the crowd on Center Court as five-time Wimbledon champion Williams cried out in pain before being immediately helped by the referee and medical staff.

After a few minutes she was able to stand on her own and called a trainer to assist her at court.

Williams grabs her right knee after she slipped on the wet grass of Center Court on Monday

After a brief stoppage in play, Williams attempted to continue the game, but she was still in visible pain as she grimaced through the next few games.

She went on to lose three games in a row, as fans speculated if she could continue, before rallying to cut the score to 4-3, a slump.

Williams has won five Wimbledon titles in her career and made 24 appearances in the competition, but she missed 2022 and many thought her time in SW19 had come to an end.

She was given a wildcard after beating world No. 48 Camila Giorgi in Birmingham at a Wimbledon warm-up tournament, and subsequently suggested she could play until she is 50 in pre-tournament interviews.