Serena withdraws from Italian Open with knee problem

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Serena Williams withdrew from the Italian Open on Tuesday with a recurring left knee injury handing sister Venus a walkover into the third round.

In Tuesday's statement, the 23-time Grand Slam winner insisted she would still be competing in the French Open at the Stade Roland-Garros later this month.

"I must withdraw from the Italian Open due to pain in my left knee," Serena said in a statement.

"I will miss the fans and competition at one of my favorite tournaments."

"I'll be concentrating on rehab and look forward to seeing you all at the French Open and next year in Rome."

Serena Williams of the U.S. returns a powerful shot against Rebecca Peterson of Sweden during the Italian Open at Foro Italico in Roma, Italy, May 13, 2019. /VCG Photo

The French Open starts on May 26.

Serena's withdrawal came a day after she beat Sweden's Rebecca Peterson in straight sets to set up a second-round meeting with her older sister Venus.

Her withdrawal sends Venus Williams, the 1999 winner, through to a third-round meeting with either Johanna Konta of Britain or American seventh seed Sloane Stephens.

Serena – now ranked 11th – has completed just eight matches this year, also withdrawing from Indian Wells in March with illness.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus celebrates winning a point over Elina Svitolina of Ukraine during the Italian Open at Foro Italico in Roma, Italy, May 14, 2019. /VCG Photo

In the women's singles, two-time women's holder Elina Svitolina of Ukraine – who had a first-round bye as the fifth seed – held a match point at 5-2 in the third set before slumping 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 to Belarusian Victoria Azarenka in a battle at the Foro Italico which was twice interrupted because of rain.

Svitolina and Azarenka battled late into the night at the Foro Italico before former two-time Australian Open winner Azarenka won through.

Matteo Berrettini of Italy returns a shot against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the Italian Open at Foro Italico in Roma, Italy, May 14, 2019. /VCG Photo

In the men's singles, Germany's Alexander Zverev crashed out of the Italian Open on Tuesday with a 7-5, 7-5 loss to Italian wild card Matteo Berrettini in the second round.

Zverev, the 2017 winner and runner-up in Rome last year to Novak Djokovic, has had a terrible start to the clay-court season with the French Open starting on May 26.

The 22-year-old lost his Madrid Open title last week, falling in the quarterfinals of both Madrid and Munich to Stefanos Tsitsipas and Cristian Garin, respectively.

Alexander Zverev of Germany waves goodbye to fans after he lost to Matteo Berrettini of Italy during the Italian Open at Foro Italico in Roma, Italy, May 14, 2019. /VCG Photo

Belgian David Goffin rallied from a set down to beat former French Open champion Stan Wawrinka in three sets and advance to the second round.

The 28-year-old Goffin won through 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 against the three-time Grand Slam winner to set up a meeting with Argentine seventh seed Juan Martin Del Potro for a place in the third round.

Source(s): AFP