Serena Williams withdraws from French Open

Serena Williams

IMAGE: Serena Williams. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

American Serena Williams withdrew from the French Open on Monday, shortly before she was due on court to face Maria Sharapova in a much-anticipated fourth round showdown.

 

The 36-year-old 23-times Grand Slam champion, making a comeback after maternity leave, told a news conference she had a pectoral muscle injury.

"Unfortunately I'm having some issues with my pec muscle.

Right now I can't actually serve it's kind of hard to play," she said.