Toronto (Canada) (AFP)
"Oh my God, I'm sorry, but I can not continue playing today," tears Serena Williams to the umpire to signify her retirement from the Toronto Premiere finals when she was led 3-1, Sunday, by Bianca Andreescu.
"Bianca, you're a great sportswoman," she said to the Canadian, who came to kiss and comfort her.
"Serena, you make me cry too, I know what it's like to be forced to give up a tournament and get hurt, but you're a real big champion on and off the court," he said. the first Canadian to be crowned in front of her audience for 69 years.
Serena Williams, 37, is still looking for her first title since returning from maternity after giving birth to her daughter Olympia in September 2017. She returned to competition in March 2018.
Finalist at Wimbledon, facing Romanian Simona Halep in July, the youngest sister Williams, former world No. 1 and now 10th, was playing her 24th game this year because of knee problems.
Winner of 23 Grand Slam titles, Serena Williams has promised that her season is not over yet: "It was a difficult year but we will continue, thank you to my team".
According to her own statements, picked up by the microphones of the stadium, Serena Williams suffers from back spasms, but the official reason for her abandonment is a wound in her upper back.
"I tried, but could not," said Serena Williams, who will have to wait before raising the trophy for a rich career.
Andreescu, 19, won her second WTA title after Indian Wells in three finals (with Auckland) this year.
© 2019 AFP