American tennis player reveals details of the injury that left her crumpled on the court at Wimbledon in emotional video
Mattek-Sands said she dislocated her patella and ruptured her patella tendon, calling the injury "one of the most painful" she's ever had.
"I was in the middle of the match and playing that last point, I was coming to the net and all I remember is hearing this pop in my leg. Everything was kind of slow after that," she said. "Someone told me afterwards that I actually got hit by the ball, and I don't even remember it. I just remember trying to take a step and my leg not being able to hold me and I just went down."
Mattek-Sands crumpled to the ground and immediately screamed for help. Her opponent, Sorana Cirstea, walked over the net and, once she caught a glimpse of Mattek-Sands' knee, quickly began to look for help herself.
"I remember Justin [Sands, her husband] on the court afterwards, just holding my face and just telling me not to look at my leg," Mattek-Sands said in the video, choking up. "And I said, eff you, I already did. It's too late."
Mattek-Sands, who won gold at the Rio Olympics in mixed doubles, said that she will need surgery and will take a break from tennis for a period to recover.
The tennis player is known for her fun personality and often colorful wardrobe and hair. In the video, she thanked fans for their support following her injury.
"The support has been amazing," she said. "I'll get through this."
Here's the full Facebook Live video: