Serena Williams Withdraws From French Open - UBITENNIS

Serena Williams Withdraws From French Open

The decision was made by the 23-time Grand Slam winner shortly after a warm-up.

By Adam Addicott
3 Min Read
September 10, 2020 - Serena Williams in action against Victoria Azarenka during a women's singles match at the 2020 US Open. (Photo by Simon Bruty/USTA)

Serena Williams has ended her French Open campaign after withdrawing from her second round match against Tsvetana Pironkova.

The former world No.1 has been forced out on the Grand Slam due to an ongoing Achilles issue that she has been experiencing in recent weeks. Williams entered Roland Garros with an injury cloud looming over her head but still managed to come through her first round match against Kristie Ahn. After her win on Monday, she said her rehabilitation was an ongoing process but gave no hint that she was considering pulling out of the draw.

“After I warmed up – it was a very short warm-up – I talked to my coach and I was like, ‘What do you think?’ We both thought about it and we really realised that it likely wasn’t the best for me to play today,” Williams said in Paris.
“I love playing in Paris, I really wanted to give an effort here. My Achilles didn’t have time to properly heal. I’m struggling to walk so that’s kind of a tell-tale sign that I should try to recover.”

Outlining details of the current problem, the 39-year-old says she will need roughly two weeks of rest followed by up to another six weeks before she can play again. Making the chances of her 2020 season coming to an abrupt end highly likely. Although Williams didn’t state that she will not play again this year.

“I always give one hundred percent and everyone knows that, maybe even more than one hundred if that’s possible. I take solace in that,” she said.
“I think Achilles is a real injury that you don’t want to play with because it is not good when it gets worse. I don’t want to get to that point.”

Williams’ withdrawal once again prolongs her bid to win a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title. Her last major triumph was at the 2017 Australian Open and since then she has settled for runner-up on four separate occasions at other major events. Despite the setbacks, the American insists that she has no plans to give up yet.

“’I love playing tennis. I love competing. It’s my job and I’m pretty good at it still… I’m so close to some things and I feel like I’m almost there… that’s what keeps me going,” Williams explained.

As for Pironkova, who is playing in only her second tournament since 2018, she will play the winner of the all-Czech duel between Barbora Krejcikova and Barbora Strycova.

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