Kiki Bertens fairy-tale run at the French Open could end in tragedy as she struggles with a left calf injury ahead of her semifinal match.
The world No.58 was struggling with the injury during the end of her quarter-final encounter against Timea Bacsinszky. Despite the issue, she clinched the straight sets win to become the first female Dutch player to reach the last four at a grand slam since Betty Stove at the 1977 US Open.
Concerns were raised yesterday by Bertens’ coach, who said that he was ‘very concerned’ about the state of her left calf according to a reporter from NOS.nl.
Coach Sluiter “very concerned” about condition of Bertens’ left calf. Friday morning practice has to give answers. pic.twitter.com/R5277Lp8ER
— Franklin Stoker (@StokerSports) 2 June 2016
Discussions were held on Friday morning about if the Dutch player should play her semifinal match against defending champion Serena Williams. Despite her injury, Bertens has decided to play in her first grand slam semifinal.
Ondanks de kuitblessure gaat Kiki #Bertens gaat de baan op tegen Serena #Williams 13:00 @NPO1
— Edwin Peek (@edwin_peek) 3 June 2016
Translation – Despite the calf injury Kiki #Bertens is going on track against Serena #Williams @ 13:00 NPO1
Bertens, who is the last unseeded player left in the draw, will be bidding to become the first player from her country to reach a grand slam final since Stove at the 1977 Wimbledon Championships. A shock win over Williams would also make Bertens the sixth lower-ranked grand slam finalist in the Open Era (not counting unranked players).
Bertens will play Williams at 13:00 local time on the Philippe-Chatrier Court.
