Serena Williams, a three-time champion took a decision to withdraw from the French Open because of an Achilles injury.
The 39 year Old American tennis player had been earlier scheduled to play her second-round match against Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova on Wednesday before her withdrawal.
Serena has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and was aiming to equal Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24.
“I think I need four to six weeks of sitting and doing nothing,” Williams told a news conference.
“I have been struggling to walk so that’s a telltale sign that I should try to recover.
“Achilles is an injury you don’t want to play with – I think it was one of the worst, don’t want to get to that point, I want it to get better.”
Williams picked up the Achilles problem during her US Open semi-final defeat by Victoria Azarenka earlier this month.
On Monday, she beat fellow American Kristie Ahn 7-6 (7-2) 6-0 in the first round at Roland Garros, but said she was struggling physically.
“In the second set I felt I needed to walk with a limp,” Williams added. “I had to focus on walking straight so I wasn’t limping. I tried and always give 100 per cent, I take solace in that.
“I’m not sure I will play another tournament this year. It is not an acute injury, it is a nagging injury. I ran into bad timing and bad luck really.”
According to Williams, “I love playing in Paris”. “I actually adore the clay. It’s so, I don’t know, fun for me. I really wanted to give an effort here but apparently, the injury is yet to heal”.
“I was able to get it somewhat better but just looking long term in this tournament, ’will I be able to get through enough matches? The answer is No, She said.
“And so for me, I don’t think I could as I am still struggling to walk, so that’s enough for me to try and recover fully”.
It would be recalled that Williams won the French Open in 2002, 2013 and 2015 and is currently ranked ninth in the world.