Serena Williams’ wait for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam will go on longer after she was forced to withdraw from the French Open due to injury.
Williams was due to play against Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round on Wednesday but withdrew shortly before the match because of an Achilles injury.
She had developed the problem during the U.S. Open earlier this month where she reached the semi-finals, eventually losing to Belarusian Victoria Azarenka.
Williams said she was not sure she will be able play another tournament this year.
“I feel like my body is willing. This is not a nagging injury. This is an acute injury. If it was my knee, that would be more devastating for me, but this is something that just happened, and it’s super acute. That’s totally different,” Williams said.
The 39-year-old made it clear that the prospect of equalling Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slams will be her motivating factor as she prepares for another assault on the feat.
“I love playing tennis. I love competing and I love being out here. It’s my job – and I’m pretty good at it still. So, until I feel like I’m not good at it, I’ll be OK. And I’m so close to some things. Like, I’m almost there. That’s what keeps me going.”
Williams has been stuck on 23 Grand Slam titles since she won the Australian Open in 2017. She has contested four finals since, twice at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and lost all of them.
Williams has won the French Open three times, in 2002, 2013 and 2015.
