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Serena Williams skips Hopman Cup opener with knee injury
PERTH, AUSTRALIA >> Serena Williams withdrew from her opening match at the Hopman Cup on Monday because of inflammation in her left knee, an early setback in her preparations for an Australian Open title defense.
The top-ranked Williams practiced ahead of her scheduled season-opener against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the international mixed-team competition at Perth Arena, but withdrew from the match and was replaced by Vicky Duval.
Duval lost 6-4, 6-1 to Svitolina and Alexandr Dolgopolov beat Jack Sock 6-4, 6-2 to clinch the best-of-three Group A match for Ukraine before the U.S. pair won the mixed doubles 6-2, 6-3.
Williams said she expected to be able to join Sock in the U.S. team to play the Australia Gold team on Tuesday.
Hopman Cup tournament director Paul Kilderry said Williams reported feeling pain in her knee on Sunday.
“She wanted to give herself every chance to play, she warmed up this morning but common sense prevailed and she just thought today she can’t do it,” Kilderry said.
After winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2015, Williams narrowly missed completing a season Grand Slam when she lost to Roberta Vinci in the semifinals of the U.S. Open.
For the 20-year-old Duval, who returned to tennis in August after overcoming Hodgkin’s lymphoma, filling in for Williams was a great opportunity.
“I was kind of nervous because I was filling in big shoes. But I had a really fun time today,” Duval said. “I have a whole new outlook on life. I’m just really grateful to be back and do what I love.”
Later Monday, Britain beat France 2-1 with Andy Murray winning his singles match and teaming up with Heather Watson to win the doubles.
Murray beat Kenny De Schepper 6-2, 6-2 but Caroline Garcia evened the score by defeating Watson 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. Murray and Watson then beat the French duo 6-2, 5-7, 10-6 in the deciding match.
At the Brisbane International, 2015 finalist Grigor Dimitrov needed six match points before beating fifthseeded Gilles Simon 6-3, 7-6 (10) to move into the second round.