BASTAD, Sweden (Fox Sports) – Wimbledon champion Serena Williams said a right elbow injury forced her to pull out of the Swedish Open on Thursday.
Williams said she felt pain in the elbow in the first game of her first-round match on Wednesday, four days after winning her sixth Wimbledon championship and fourth successive Grand Slam title, but went on to roll Belgian qualifier Yasline Bonaventure 6-2, 6-1.
“I was having some pain in my elbow, and I felt a little bit in my match,” she said in an interview with tournament organizers. “But this morning it really exploded (in practice) … I really couldn’t hit serves.”
Appearing downhearted, the 2013 Swedish Open champion said she wanted to do what was best for her body, and made the right decision, despite it being a “really, really difficult decision.”
Williams told spectators on court that she was sad to withdraw, and looked forward to playing again at Bastad.