Serena Williams decides to withdraw from 2020 French Open

Serena Williams of Saginaw, Michigan will have to wait a little longer to tie Margaret Court’s record for the most grand slam women’s singles titles of all-time. On Wednesday, Williams explained that the achilles tendon injury she suffered from the United States Open in early September prevented her from continuing in the 2020 French Open.

Williams was to face Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria in the second round on Wednesday. This was to be a rematch of their quaterfinal match at the U.S. Open, which was won by Williams 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. But it was not meant to be.

In women’s singles, the second biggest story at Roland Garros is the fact that 14 of the 32 seeded players have already been eliminated. In addition to Williams, the sixth seed, they are 15th ranked and 2019 French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic; 24th ranked Dayana Yastremska of the Ukraine; ninth ranked Johanna Konta of Great Britain; two-time grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia; 17th ranked Anett Kontaveit of Estonia; 32nd ranked Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic; 21st ranked Jennifer Brady of the United States; 22nd ranked Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic; 26th ranked Donna Vekic of Croatia; 31st ranked Magda Linette of Poland; 18th ranked and three-time grand slam champion Angelique Kerber of Germany; 12th ranked and 2017 U.S. Open finalist Madison Keys of the United States; and 19th ranked Alison Riske of the United States.

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In men’s action, the most significant story was the fact that there were two first round matches where grand slam champions played against each other. Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland defeated Andy Murray of Great Britain 6-1, 6-3, 6-2, and Dominic Thiem of Austria defeated Marin Cilic of Croatia 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. The last time men’s grand slam champions played each other in the first round in a major was Wimbledon 2012 when Novak Djokovic of Serbia beat Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.

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