Two of the headliners of the women’s tournament left Roland-Garros on Wednesday, September 30. One, Serena Williams, without playing, on injury, the other, Victoria Azarenka, after a dry and severe defeat.
The American, 9e world player, was forced to withdraw just before playing her second against Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova (157e). The Belarusian, finalist of the US Open, was dominated by the 161st world Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in straight sets (6-2, 6-2).
With this outing, it is not this year that Serena Williams will equal the record of Australian Margaret Court, holder of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, after which she is still chasing.
Physically reduced in the semifinals of the US Open, lost to Victoria Azarenka on September 11, Serena Williams announced in the wake of her withdrawal from the tournament in Rome due to an Achilles heel injury. The injury did not heal enough to allow him to defend his chances on Parisian clay.
“After a short warm-up, I spoke to my coach, I asked him what he thought, she explained Wednesday during a flash press conference, by videoconference, health protocol requires. We figured it wasn’t the best idea to go on court today. I really wanted to make an effort here, but I’m having trouble walking, and that’s a sign that I still need a recovery. My Achilles tendon didn’t have enough time to heal after the US Open and it’s the kind of injury where it better not get worse. “
The American, who just turned 39, has announced that she will need four to six weeks of rest.
