(Julian Finney / Getty Images)
(PARIS) Serena Williams withdrew from the French Open on Wednesday due to a lingering left Achilles injury.
Williams was scheduled to face off with Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round, but after warming up for the match she opted not to continue to avoid further injury.
"I really wanted to give an effort here. So it's my Achilles that didn't have enough time to properly heal after the [US] Open," Williams said at her news conference. "I was able to get it somewhat better, but just looking long term in this tournament -- will I be able to get through enough matches? And so for me, I don't think I could. Struggling to walk, so that's kind of a telltale sign I should try to recover."
Williams suffered the injury in the U.S. Open semifinals against Victoria Azarenka earlier in the month. She said she will take weeks to recover and may not play in another tournament this year.
She has won the French Open three times and has accumulated 23 major wins throughout her career.
Pironkova advances to the third round of the tournament via walkover.