Serena Forced to Withdraw at Roland Garros

June 4, 2018 | By Eric C. Peck
Photo credit: EPIX

Three-time champion Serena Williams withdrew from the French Open Monday prior to her match with Maria Sharapova, feeling the effects of a pectoral muscle issue.

“I unfortunately have been having some issues with my pec muscle, and has unfortunately been getting worse to the point where right now I can’t actually serve,” said Serena. “It’s kind of hard to play when I can’t physically serve.”

Her appearance at Roland Garros marked her first at a Grand Slam since the birth of her daughter in September, having racked up wins over Kristyna Pliskova, the 17th-seeded Ashleigh Barty, and  the 11th-seeded Julia Goerges leading up to her much anticipated Round of 16 encounter with Sharapova.

“I have been doing so good. Every match has been getting better for me,” said Serena. “Physically, I’m doing great, and again, it hasn’t been easy. I sacrificed so much to be at this event. I can only take solace in the fact that I’m going to continue to get better. I had such a wonderful performance in my first Grand Slam back that I just feel like it’s only going to get better. I’m coming up on surfaces that are my absolute favorite to play on and that I do best on. Hopefully, you know, I can continue to heal and be able to play those events.”

Sharapova, the 28th-seed, moves on to the quarterfinals where she will face 2016 French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza, after Lesia Tsurenko was forced to retire, trailing Muguruza, 2-0 on Monday. Muguruza has yet to drop a set against Roland Garros, and split her previous two meetings with Tsurenko.

“I think it happened in the second game. I saw her hitting a shot and that didn’t look very well, and from that moment, I think she didn’t feel good,” said Muguruza. “I know how it feels. I had few retirements at the beginning of the year. It is very tough, especially here in the fourth round of French Open.”

In three career meetings, Sharapova holds a perfect 3-0 edge over Muguruza, their most recent meeting in 2014 at the Canadian Masters in the Round of 32, a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 win for the Russian.

“I haven’t played against her for a while,” said Muguruza. “She’s in quarterfinals, and I’m really looking forward to playing her. She’s very solid and aggressive. I’m going to try and play my best tennis, and I think that we both have the same type of aggressive game. So what I have to do is be on top of things and start first.”


Eric C. Peck
Editor-in-Chief, Long Island Tennis Magazine

Eric C. Peck is Editor-in-Chief of Long Island Tennis Magazine. He may be reached by e-mail at eric@litennismag.com

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