Venus returns after fall but loses at Wimbledon

LONDON -- Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams lost in the first round of her 24th appearance at the All England Club on Monday.

Williams fell to the ground at Centre Court early on against Elina Svitolina, and her right knee was treated twice by a trainer, including getting taped up during a medical timeout after the second set.

The American kept playing but could not manage to overcome 2019 Wimbledon semifinalist Svitolina in a 6-4, 6-3 defeat at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament.

Williams, 43, was the oldest player in this year's field and the fourth-oldest to compete in the main draw at Wimbledon.

Svitolina was only 2 when Williams made her Wimbledon debut in 1997 and just 5 when Williams won the event for the first time.