Williams has said she is "beyond disappointed" after being forced to withdraw from the French Open ahead of her scheduled match against Maria Sharapova due to an injury which affected her serve
Tuesday 5 June 2018 06:03, UK
Serena Williams has pulled out of her French Open clash with Maria Sharapova due to injury.
Williams, a triple French Open champion and 23-time Grand Slam winner, was due to renew her bitter 14-year rivalry with Sharapova in the last 16 at Roland Garros on Monday.
Sharapova was looking to end her 14-year, 18-match hoodoo against Williams in a much anticipated grudge match, but now gets a walkover in the women's draw.
The 36-year-old American, making a comeback playing since giving birth to her daughter in September, told a news conference she had a pectoral muscle injury.
She said: "Unfortunately I've been having some issues with my pec muscle. Right now I can't actually serve so it's actually hard to play when I can't physically serve.
"I'm beyond disappointed. I gave up so much from time with my daughter and time with my family all for this moment. So it's really difficult to be in this situation.
"I'm having an MRI (scan) tomorrow, I'm going to stay here to see the doctors and see as many specialists as I can. I won't know (how serious the injury is) until I get those results."
Williams had worked hard to get back in shape and had seen off Kristyna Pliskova, Ashleigh Barty, and 11th seed Julia Goerges en route to the fourth round.
"Physically I'm doing great. It hasn't been easy. I sacrificed so much to be at this event. I'm going to continue to get better. I had such a wonderful performance in my first Grand Slam back," she added.
Sharapova will now play the winner of the match between third-seed Garbine Muguruza in the quarter-finals.
Wimbledon champion Muguruza made it through after her opponent Lesia Tsurenko retired injured.
The Spaniard was 2-0 up in the first set when Tsurenko seemed to injure her thigh as she stretched for a shot and was unable to continue.
