Injured Serena eyes Wimbledon
MEDICAL UPDATE The 23time Grand Slam champion says initial test report is positive and she is super excited
Serena Williams has revealed the news from her initial doctor’s examination was “super exciting” after she was forced to pull out of the French Open. The 23-time grand slam champion had been scheduled to take on familiar foe Maria Sharapova in the fourth round at Roland Garros on Monday, only to withdraw with a pectoral problem that had left her physically unable to serve.
Williams’ appearance in Paris was her first at a major since winning the 2017 Australian Open, after which the 36-yearold took time out of the game to give birth to her first child.
Her withdrawal in the French capital raised fears that she may not recover in time for Wimbledon, which gets under way on July 2, but Williams posted a video to her Instagram story on Tuesday which indicated the early prognosis from medical staff was promising.
“So today has been interesting already,” she said.
“I just finished one exam with one doctor and the news was actually super exciting so I’m really happy about that.
“I’m having an MRI soon but I wanted to keep you guys totally updated. While I wait, I clean because cleaning gives me calm and peace but thanks for the support and love and understanding.
“It’s been incredibly frustrating but also I’m excited because I feel like I’ve been playing really, really well and I can only go up and I’m looking so forward to going up.
“Hopefully you guys can be there to continue to keep cheering me on. I love you guys.”
Serena earlier admitted her dream of an eighth Wimbledon title could either be saved or shattered in a Paris doctor’s office this week.
In Paris, Williams was playing her first Grand Slam since winning the 2017 Australian Open when she was two months pregnant and first since she gave birth to daughter Olympia in September.
However, in the end, her Paris schedule caught up with her.
Since Tuesday last week, she had played six matches in six days, with her singles duties alternating with doubles alongside sister Venus.
That compared to just four matches -- in Indian Wells and Miami this year -- since her 2017 Australian Open win.
“I have made every sacrifice that I could. So it’s extremely disappointing,” she added.
“But also, I made a promise to myself and to my coach and to my team that if I’m not at least 60% or 50%, then I probably shouldn’t play.
“The fact that I physically can’t serve at all is a good indication that maybe I should just go back to the drawing board and stay positive and try to get better and not get to a point where it could be a lot worse.”
PARIS: It’s been incredibly frustrating but also I’m excited because I feel like I’ve been playing really, really well and I can only go up and I’m looking so forward to going up.
The fact that I physically can’t serve at all is a good indication that maybe I should just go back to the drawing board and stay positive and try to get better.
SHARAPOVA MESSAGE With Wimbledon not starting until July 2, Williams has a degree of time on her side in which to get healthy.
A rematch with Sharapova at the All England Club could have even greater significance as it was there in 2004 that the Russian, then a slender 17-year-old, stunned Williams to lift the title.
It also lit the fuse on a relationship which has generally been close to explosive ever since.
Monday’s scheduled match was due to take place just two days after Williams had blasted Sharapova’s autobiography for being “100% hearsay” when it came to references about the aftermath of that 2004 Wimbledon final. “I think Serena hated me for being the skinny kid who beat her, against all odds, at Wimbledon,” Sharapova wrote in ‘Unstoppable’.
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.