Serena Williams' search for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title will extend into another year, after an Achilles tendon injury forced her to withdraw from the French Open.
The American, who turned 39 this week, was due to play Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round, but after a warm-up, decided the injury was too severe.
Williams, a three-time champion at Roland Garros, says she may not play again this year.
"I warmed up and it was a very short warm-up," says Williams. "Then I spoke to my coach and said 'what do you think?'
"I was struggling to walk, so that's a telltale sign that I should try to recover."
Williams suffered the problem during her semi-final loss to Victoria Azarenka at the US Open and was not at 100 percent physically, but had recovered sufficiently to play at Roland Garros.
She spoke again of the injury after her first-round win over fellow American Kristie Ahn and aggravated it while practising for her second-round match.
"An Achilles injury is a real injury you don't want to play with," she says. "As it can get worse and I don't want to get to that.
"This is not a nagging injury, it's an acute injury. If it was my knee, it would be more devastating.
"It's just bad timing and bad luck."
Williams has yet to decide whether she will play again this season, saying she needs two weeks of complete rest.
Williams also pulled out of the French Open in 2018 with an abdominal injury, before a last-16 clash with Maria Sharapova.
Since Williams resumed her career in 2018, after a maternity break, she has remained tantalisingly one behind the record 24 Grand Slam titles claimed by Australian Margaret Court.
She lost in the Wimbledon and US Open finals that year, as she did in 2019.
While her window of opportunity is narrowing to reach that milestone, Williams sounded a defiant note.
"I love playing tennis, I love competing," she says. "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.
"My body is actually doing really well."
Reuters
