Serena out of Italian Open with Achilles problem
Serena out of Italian Open with Achilles problem
(Reuters) - Serena Williams has pulled out of the Italian Open starting on Monday due to an Achilles injury, the former world number one confirmed on Saturday.
Williams’ bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title ended with a defeat to Victoria Azarenka at the U.S. Open on Thursday, a match in which she took a medical timeout to have her left ankle re-taped due to the Achilles problem.
"I regretfully must withdraw from The Internazionali BNL d Italia due to an Achilles strain," Williams, a four-times winner in Rome, said in a statement here.
“I’m so humbled by the continuous support from my fans in Rome and I look forward to making my return soon.”
Double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu and top-ranked Ash Barty have also pulled out of the tournament.
Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev, who will contest the U.S. Open men s final on Sunday, have withdrawn from the event, the organisers said in a statement here.
