Serena doubles as historian against Martinez Sanchez

Serena Williams is not just an all-time champion. She's also a top-flight historian.

Just before the start of play in her third-round doubles showdown alongside sister Venus Williams against No. 3 seeds Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Andreja Klepac, Serena approached the chair umpire for a quick review of the rules. "If I get hit by a ball, or the opponent gets hit by a ball, is the point over?"

The chair umpire confirmed, and Serena continued: "Okay, can you make sure she and they understand that? 'Cause I did hit [Martinez Sanchez] once, and she kept playing, and I lost the point."

This brief exchange stemmed from an incident nine years ago at the same event, the 2009 French Open. Serena struck a groundstroke that showed on televised replay to have grazed the Spaniard's arm. At the time, Martinez Sanchez said that she did not feel anything and assumed that the ball hit her racquet, as it went back over the net onto Serena's side. That singles match's chair umpire didn't notice what actually happened, and after a couple terse exchanges, Serena went on to win the match in three sets.

The result would not be the same on this day, though the doubles affair did go to a third set. Martinez Sanchez and Klepac took the match in a 6-0 decider, moving on to a fourth-round encounter with No. 6 seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.

On Monday, Serena withdrew from her fourth-round match against Maria Sharapova with a right pectoral injury, effectively ending her first Grand Slam back since giving birth to her daughter.

Thanks to @marlonawalker for the tip.

Follow Jon on Twitter @jonscott9.

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