The injured 39-year-old American withdrew on Wednesday before her second round against Bulgaria's Tsvetlana Pironkova.

The American Serena Williams, 9th in the world, forfeited an injury Wednesday before her second round at Roland Garros, leaving the Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova (157th) to pass without playing in the third round.

"It's my Achilles tendon that didn't have time to heal after the US Open," the younger Williams sisters, 39, told a press conference.