MELBOURNE, Australia — Venus Williams was in the middle of a first-set tiebreaker at the Australian Open today when her mother yelled some encouragement.

Oracene Price’s urges to “fight” were clearly intended for her daughter, but they appeared to immediately fall on deaf ears, and with good reason. On the last point of the tiebreaker she eventually lost, Venus hurt herself on a twisting backhand volley.

Writhing in pain and clutching near her stomach as she walked back to her courtside chair, a WTA trainer was called and Williams took a medical timeout. She returned with her upper right thigh taped and a whole new attitude.

“It was really tough, but I’m a long way from home and it’s such a long way I didn’t want to go back yet,” Williams said after surviving through a 6-7 (6), 6-0, 6-4 second-round win over Sandra Zahlavova.