Injured Serena practices in private session

Serena Williams injured her ankle in her first-round match on Tuesday.

Rob Griffith/AP

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Serena Williams shunned fans at the Australian Open by switching a practice session to a closed court Wednesday, a day after falling on her right ankle during the first round.

Third-seeded Williams was scheduled to practice on a public court at Melbourne Park, where a mob of fans had gathered and media waited to ask about her ankle.

Court security informed journalists she had canceled her session.

Tournament officials later said Williams had switched to an indoor court that was closed to the media.

Williams fell during her 6-0, 6-0 win over Edina Gallovits-Hall, playing out the match with her ankle heavily taped. She said Tuesday she hoped to continue playing the tournament in pursuit of her sixth Australian Open.

She faces Garbine Muguruza at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.