Why is Serena Williams wearing plasters on her face at Wimbledon? Reasons explained as American eyes title

Serena Williams returns to action at Wimbledon this year, following on from her appearance in the women's doubles at Eastbourne last week. The 40-year-old is looking to firmly consign a frustrating injury-plagued 12 months behind her as she appears at the All England club as a wild card. Ad/> Since withdrawing from the first round at Wimbledon last year, the American was forced to miss last year’s US Open and this year’s Australian Open, before choosing to miss the French Open.

WimbledonWimbledon order of play, Day 2 — When are Nadal, Swiatek and Williams playing?17 HOURS AGO But one of the sport’s most iconic figures is back competing, and one of the most striking things about the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s appearance in Eastbourne were the plasters on her cheek. A report from The Times claims this is due to a longstanding sinus problem, and the tape plays a crucial role in relieving the symptoms. Williams spoke about playing with the condition in 2007 and said at the time in quotes published by the Edinburgh Evening News: “I’m a sinus sufferer.

Playing tennis or pretty much doing anything every day is not easy when you have sinuses. You feel a lot of pressure, congestion and pain and training for Grand Slams… it’s not easy.” Sinusitis is a condition that swells the empty spaces behind your cheeks connecting to the nose. Once the lining swells, mucus cannot drain from your nose and throat correctly.