By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday September 30, 2020
The American legend was forced to abandon her quest for a 24th major due to an Achilles injury in Paris.
Photo Source: AP
Serena Williams has pulled out of the 2020 French Open with an Achilles injury. The American, a three-time champion in Paris, first suffered the injury during her semifinal at the US Open with Victoria Azarenka.
She was slated to face Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova on Day 4.
"It's my Achilles heel that's not doing very well," she told reporters. "I thought to myself: 'It will get better', but if I think longer term, can I hold up with that many matches? I said to myself: 'Personally, I don't think so'. I have some difficulty walking, that's a little warning sign."
The withdrawal means that Williams has now competed in ten Grand Slams without winning one since she returned from maternity leave in 2018. The American legend remains one Grand Slam title shy of Margaret Court's all-time Grand Slam record.
"I love competition, tennis is my passion," Williams said. "Tennis is my job. I'm still very good you know, even if sometimes I tell myself that I'm not very good. Sometimes I'm really close to achieving my goals. This is what drives me to move forward."