The Reason Why Serena Williams Has Withdrawn From French Open

Serena Williams announced her shock withdrawal from the French Open on Monday , before her fourth-round match with Maria Sharapova.

She explained in a news conference at Roland Garros in Paris that her pectoral muscle injury caused her to withdraw.

The 36-year-old tennis star said, “Unfortunately I’m having some issues with my pectoral muscle. Right now I can’t actually serve so it’s kind of hard to play.

“It’s very difficult, I love playing Maria. I’ve made every sacrifice I could. I made a commitment to myself and my team that if I wasn’t at least 60% I wouldn’t play. I’ve never felt this in my life. It’s so painful.

“I’m beyond disappointed. I gave up so much from time with my daughter & time with my family all for this moment. So it’s really difficult to be in this situation.”

“I thought [doubles] was a perfect opportunity to see how I was going. I tried a lot of different tapings and support. It didn’t get a lot better.”

Sharapova, the champion in Paris in 2012 and 2014, goes on to play a first quarter-final at the Slams since losing to Williams at the same stage at the 2016 Australian Open.

It was in Melbourne that Sharapova tested positive for meldonium after which she served a 15-month doping ban.

She will face either 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza or Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine for a semi-final place.