Tumble may scupper Serena’s Brisbane hopes
FOOT FAULT: Serena Williams collapses after twisting her left ankle in her match against Bojana Jovanovski at the Brisbane International tournament yesterday. BRISBANE, Australia: Fivetime Australian Open champion Serena Williams’ participation in the year’s opening Grand Slam was uncertain yesterday after she was forced to pull out of the Brisbane International with an ankle injury.
The 13-time Grand Slam winner fell heavily and rolled her ankle during a baseline rally towards the end of her second round win over Serbia’s Bojana Jovanovski. Williams, who was serving for the match at the time, was able to continue following treatment, and held on to beat Jovanovski 6-2, 6-4.
But the injury-prone player limped from the court and was later forced to withdraw from her quarter-final against Daniela Hantuchova on medical advice.
“I’m disappointed to have to pull out of the Brisbane International,” Williams said in a statement. “I have been to hospital and it has been confirmed that I have a left ankle sprain that I probably shouldn’t play on.
“I’m going to take a couple of days off – not too many – and see how I feel. I’m still hopeful of playing the Australian Open.”
Williams, who normally wears an ankle guard on her left leg, said: “I actually took (the ankle guard) off in the second set because it was painful because I was having another problem with my foot.” – SAPA-AFP