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Serena Williams withdraws from French Open

Serena Williams withdrew from the French Open with an Achilles injury before a scheduled second-round match.

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, was due to play Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova on Wednesday.

Williams injured her Achilles in a U.S. Open semifinal loss to Victoria Azarenka three weeks ago.

After that, she spent most of her preparation time in France rehabbing.

“A ton of prayer,” she said, noting coming early to a first-round, post-match press conference to maximize her subsequent time handling the Achilles. “I’m doing so much for it.