Venus Williams is dumped out of Wimbledon in the first round by Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina

If this is to be the last we see of Venus Williams on Centre Court, then it was a fitting tribute to her skill, resilience and warrior spirit.

The 43-year-old five-time champion had slogged through two months of rehab on a hamstring injury to make it to the start line. So it was cruel indeed to see her pick up a knee issue in Birmingham last month – and crueller still to hear the scream of agony in today’s first round when she slipped and fell, clutching that same right knee.

Hobbled as she was, it was a remarkable effort to complete the match and win as many games as she did, eventually going down 6-4, 6-3 to Elina Svitolina.

Williams said before the tournament that she would like to keep playing at Wimbledon until she is 50, but this has been an almost two-year long succession of injuries and there is only so long an athlete can keep going back to the well – even as deep a one as has sustained Venus throughout her remarkable career.

The first few games of the match were an even contest with Williams moving well. But then came that slip.

Her movement was seriously impaired, and she netted a succession of low volleys, clearly unable to bend her knee enough to get down to the ball.

The crowd did its best to carry her through. ‘Heart of a champion Venus,’ shouted one; ‘One point at a time, V,’ said another.

The potency of her groundstrokes whenever the ball came within her hitting range meant that she was able to keep herself within touching distance.

She even had two break points to bring it back to 5-5 in the first set but Svitolina won a couple of tense rallies and took the set 6-4.

The trainer returned to the court then and Williams had her leg re-strapped, but her movement failed to improve and, after another brief fightback at the end of the set, Svitolina closed out the match.

There was a final show of defiance from Williams after a Hawkeye call went against her on match and the umpire decided to award the point to Svitolina. Williams gave a mirthless laugh and walked off without shaking umpire Maria Cicak’s hand.

Svitolina, who was two years old when Venus made her debut here, is a fellow wildcard, returning to the tour this year after maternity leave.

The Ukrainian former world No3 has previously said it would be ‘very sad’ if Wimbledon reversed their ban on players from the countries that invaded her homeland, but has said more recently that she ‘respects’ the decision.

Nevertheless, it is clear that Svitolina, always a fierce competitor, has even more fire in her belly as she seeks to do her war-torn nation proud.