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Serena Williams
Photo: CHRISTIAN HARTMANN / REUTERS
Tennis superstar Serena Williams has to give up her dream of a 24th Grand Slam triumph for the time being.
The 39-year-old American resigned from her second round match at the French Open on Wednesday against Bulgarian Zwetana Pironkowa.
Williams had arrived in Paris with Achilles tendon problems, but had won her opening match against her compatriot Kristie Ahn 7: 6 (7: 2), 6: 0.
"I love to play on clay in Paris, it's such great fun for me and I really wanted to hang out here," Williams said at a short-term press conference: "It's my Achilles tendon, it hasn't healed properly the US Open. "
Williams said she was having trouble walking.
This is a clear sign that she needs to recover.
This broke the 39-year-old American's dream of drawing level with Australian Margaret Court after Grand Slam titles.
Williams has had repeated injuries in the past.
The long-standing number one in the tennis world has been in a Grand Slam final four times since the birth of her daughter Olympia 2017, but always had to admit defeat.
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