Serena Williams is one tough cookie, no question about that.  But even more toughness is required if your injury was caused by your own mistake.  First, she rolled an ankle during the first round of the Australian Open.  Shortly afterward, Williams hit herself in the face with her racket as she defeated Spaniard Garbine Muguruza 6-2 6-0.

Williams had to check her mouth for damage after the hit.  Williams puts up the kind of racket speed that makes most men blush.

“I think it happens to everyone, but I have never busted it wide open like that,” she said.

“So, yeah, I was like, ‘Oh, no. I can’t have a tooth fall out.’ That would be horrible.”

Williams says that she also has to take painkillers to deal with the pain in her ankle.  But she said that she plans to keep it going to make it through the tournament.

“I didn’t feel anything today,” she said.   “Obviously when you go out to play you’re heavy on adrenaline and you’re really pumped up.

“Usually I feel injuries after the match, but so far, so good. I felt pretty, much better than I ever dreamed of expecting to feel.  I feel everybody in the tournament probably is on some sort of pain relief … I don’t do injections. Just tablets.”

Williams is soon going to have to face world number one Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals, which should be a match for the ages.  With a bad ankle and hitting herself in the face, it’s hard to know if she is going to be ready.