Today on Tennis Channel: Alcaraz takes the doubles court as Laver Cup action kicks off in San Francisco

The most frequent dark underbelly to sport is, of course, injury. Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia learned that yet again when she suffered a "leg muscle strain" (per the Washington Post) in her Fed Cup match this weekend against Serbia's Vesna Dolonc. Cibulkova led 6-4, 5-3 when the injury occurred, and she fell to the court two separate times as team medics rushed to help ease her pain. Here's the clip:

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Ultimately, Cibulkova retired from the match. Her compatriot Daniela Hantuchova, however, played Fed Cup heroine, clinching the tie for the Slovaks with a second singles victory. Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic were not present for Serbia, both citing injuries in skipping the tie.

This is a tough come-from-ahead "loss" to take for Cibulkova, who earlier in the year was dealt a double-bagel WTA final defeat at the crafty hands of Agnieszka Radwanska. If anything, she can find solace in the fact that team ultimately clinched the victory and moves on in the competition. Here's hoping her 2013 season turns around. As always with these solitary singles stars, it's up to her.

Thanks for the tip, [@unseededlooming.]

—Jonathan Scott (@jonscott9)