Serena Williams Withdraws From French Open With Chest Injury, Gets Asked Sexist Question By Reporter

Serena Williams pulled out of the 2018 French Open on Monday morning, citing a pectoral injury as her reason.

Serena Williams Pulls Out Of French Open

The 36-year-old American’s exit from Roland Garros has already upset many fans, as Williams was expected to make a major comeback to competitive tennis after giving birth to her first daughter in September 2017. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, was next scheduled to face Maria Sharapova in the fourth round of the tournament in Paris, her first major competition in 16 months.

“It’s extremely disappointing,” Williams said during a press conference in Paris. “But also, I made a promise to myself and to my coach and to my team that if I’m not at least 60 percent or 50 percent, then I probably shouldn’t play.”

Williams added that her chest muscle problem is causing her to have trouble with serves in particular. She said she will receive an MRI and speak with medical professionals.

The American superstar said the discomfort began during her third-round win on Saturday over No. 11-seeded German Julia Goerges, and that she was unsure as to the nature of the pain.

Williams and her sister Venus lost a doubles match on Sunday.

Given Serena William’s exit from the French Open, Sharapova — who has won the tournament twice — will advance to the quarter-finals. The Russian’s opponent has not yet been determined.

Also on Monday, Inside Tennis reporter Bill Simons apologized after he received backlash over a question he asked Williams that many people regarded as sexist.

Simons had asked Williams if she had ever felt “intimidated by [the] supermodel good looks” of Sharapova, as President Donald Trump reportedly suggested in 2004.

Trump had reportedly told Simons he believed Sharapova’s figure, especially her “incredibly alluring shoulders” had distracted Williams and led the Russian tennis star to win the 2004 Wimbledon final. Williams responded by saying she has never felt intimidated by Sharapova or any other opponent solely based on their appearance.

Williams has won 19 of her last 21 matches against Sharapova, who received a two-year suspension for testing positive for the banned heart medication meldonium. Sharapova’s suspension was ultimately reduced.