By Chris Oddo | Monday June 4, 2018
The 22nd meeting of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will have to wait.
Serena Williams withdrew from Roland Garros on Monday, citing a pectoral muscle that had been limiting her ability to serve. The withdrawal marks the first time that Williams has ever given a walkover at a major tournament.
"I unfortunately have been having some issues with my pec muscle and unfortunately it's been getting worse to the point where right now I can't actually serve,” Williams told reporters. “It's kind of hard to play when I can't physically serve.”
Sharapova advances to the quarterfinals and will face either Garbiñe Muguruza or Lesia Tsurenko next.
"It's very difficult because I love playing Maria,” Williams added. “It's a match I always get up for. Her game matches so well against mine and it is difficult because like I keep saying, I've given up so much to be here."
Sharapova enters her ninth career quarterfinal at Roland Garros. She owns a 3-0 lifetime edge against Muguruza but has not met the Spaniard since 2014. Sharapova defeated Muguruza en route to the title in Paris in 2014.
Williams, meanwhile, expects to undergo an MRI but remains hopeful that she'll be ready to compete at Wimbledon