Serena Williams pulls back from Roland Garros with injury
Serena Williams has withdrawn from her second-round match at Roland Garros on Wednesday. The 23-time Grand Slam winner is struggling with an Achilles tendon injury.
“I love playing on clay in Paris and wanted to put in a good performance here, but I can barely walk. That is a sign that I have to recover,” said 39-year-old Williams at a press conference.
Williams started the tournament in Paris on Monday with a win in two sets over her compatriot Kristie Ahn. She would play against Tsvetana Pironkova from Bulgaria on Wednesday.
The American went to Roland Garros for another chance at her 24th Grand Slam title, which would equal her record holder Margaret Court. She can only make another attempt in 2021 because Roland Garros is the last Grand Slam tournament of this year.
Williams took her 23rd and for now last Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in early 2017. This year she stranded at that tournament in the third round and reached the semi-finals at the US Open.
The 33-year-old Pironkova is sure of a place in the third round due to the cancellation of Williams.