*** Serena’s French Open clash with Sharapova ends before it began due to injury | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Serena’s French Open clash with Sharapova ends before it began due to injury

American Serena Williams’ audacious attempt to win the French Open for the fourth time ended in crushing anti-climax yesterday 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-times grand slam champion instead stepped into a news conference room to announce she was pulling out.

Williams, playing in her first Grand Slam tournament 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.

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