Serena pulls out with knee injury
Rome:serena Williams pulled out of the Italian Open on Tuesday due to a persistent knee injury which casts doubt on her participation in the French Open which begins this month.
The 37-year-old American world No 11 had been due to face sister Venus in an eagerlyawaited second-round clash in Rome. Venus received a walk- over into the third round.
Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, has struggled throughout the year and completed only two matches since the Australian Open where she reached the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, former French Open winner Garbine Muguruza warmed up for this month’s claycourt Grand Slam at Roland Garros by easing into the second round in Rome on Monday with a straight sets win over China’s Zheng Saisai. Muguruza — a former world No 1 now ranked 19th — came through 6-3, 6-4 for her third win over 46th-ranked Saisai this season.
The 25-year-old Muguruza, who won the French Open in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017, has twice reached the semi-finals in Rome.