Williams was a fourth-round loser in singles before she retired from her doubles second round tie with what was described as a "viral illness" after almost fainting and serving up four double faults in a performance which made for uncomfortable, almost goulish viewing.
The 32-year-old added to the mystery when she posted a photo on social media showing herself wrapped in a blanket and slumped listlessly on a sofa, staring blankly at a laptop on the table in front of her.
Former champion and world number one Martina Navratilova suggested that there was more to the story than a "viral illness" although Williams has suffered serious health issues in the past, once even having to battle life-threatening blood clots on her lungs.
"I've never seen anything like it and hopefully never will again," Navratilova told ESPN.
"You don't know what's going on, but virus was not it, that much is clear."
One day after defending men's champion Murray made a tame exit in straight sets to Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals, the British media suggested there had been an incident involving the 27-year-old in the minutes leading up to his Centre Court clash.
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