Serena pulls out vs Sharapova with injury

Serena Williams’ audacious attempt to win the French Open for a fourth time ended in crushing anti-climax on Monday as injury, rather than an old foe, forced the 36-year-old to admit defeat at Roland Garros.

The scene had been set for Williams in her “superhero” catsuit to take on Russian ice queen Maria Sharapova in a fourth-round clash that had assumed top-billing.

But shortly before the two old warriors were due on court, the 23-time Grand Slam champion instead stepped into a news conference room to announce she was pulling out.

Williams, playing in her first Grand Slam since giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia last September, said she had suffered a pectoral muscle injury in her impressive third round victory against Germany’s Julia Goerges.

“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 told a room packed with reporters. “I’m having an MRI tomorrow, I’m going to stay here to see the doctors and see as many specialists as I can. I won’t know (how serious the injury is) until I get those results.”

Williams had worked hard to get back in shape and, despite starting the tournament with a notional ranking of 451 and having played only four matches this year, she actually looked capable of going all the way.

With an 18-match winning streak against twice French champion Sharapova in her favor, Williams said she was “beyond disappointed” not to be able to play on Monday.

“I gave up so much to time with my daughter and my family and put everything on court for this moment,” she said.

“It’s really difficult to be in this situation, but... for now in my life, I just always try to think positively and just think of the bigger picture and hopefully