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A16 sports
Thursday 1 OcTOber 2020
'Bad timing and bad luck': Injured Serena out of French Open

By HOWARD FENDRICH and tain the premise.
JEROME PUGMIRE "I'm just going to speak only
AP Sports Writers for myself, and I will say that
PARIS (AP) — Serena Wil- today was not the case of
liams laughed at her own a turnaround, was not the
jokes and sounded an case of the court, was not
upbeat tone — or one as the case of anything else,"
positive, at least, as could said the former No. 1 and
be expected from a play- two-time Australian Open
er whose latest bid for a champion. "This is a lesson
record-tying 24th Grand for me to learn. I don't think
Slam title ended because about what happened in
of injury, as did her season, New York, today. So, to me,
probably. it doesn't really matter."
Williams tried to warm up for It was in the third set of Wil-
her second-round match at liams' semifinal against Aza-
Roland Garros on Wednes- renka at Flushing Meadows
day but huddled after- that Williams stretched her
ward with her coach and left Achilles while chasing
determined that if walking a shot. Williams took a long
on the Achilles tendon she pause, clutched at that leg
hurt at the U.S. Open nearly and then took a medical
three weeks ago was diffi- timeout so a trainer could
cult, then trying to run and Serena Williams of the U.S., center, leaves after a video link press conference in which she wrap it.
compete made little sense. announced her withdrawal from the tournament because of an Achilles injury prior to her second "Didn't have enough time
round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France,
"If it was my knee, that Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. to properly heal after the
would be more really dev- Associated Press Open. I was able to get it
astating for me. But this is somewhat better, but just
something that just hap- development in Paris on tournament and for tennis didn't make the trip to looking long-term in this
pened, and it's super acute. Day 4, which also included fans worldwide." France at all; No. 21 seed tournament, will I be able
That's totally different. I feel a straight-set loss by U.S. Williams' departure, and Jennifer Brady was upset to get through enough
like my body is actually do- Open runner-up Victoria the 10th-seeded Azaren- in her opening match by a matches? And so, for me,
ing really, really well," said Azarenka and straightfor- ka's 6-2, 6-2 dismissal by 17-year-old qualifier. I don't think I could," Wil-
Williams, who turned 39 on ward wins for Rafael Nadal 161st-ranked Anna Karolina The French Open's start liams said Wednesday. "I'm
Saturday. "I just ran into, for and Dominic Thiem over a Schmiedlova — someone was postponed to Septem- struggling to walk, so that's
lack of a better word, bad couple of American men. who lost 13 consecutive ber from May because of kind of a telltale sign that I
timing and bad luck, really, "That's disappointing on Grand Slam matches until the coronavirus pandem- should try to recover."
in New York." many levels, of course," said defeating Williams' older ic, and there were plenty She played with a vertical
Williams withdrew about an John Isner, the 21st-seeded sister, Venus, earlier this of questions beforehand strip of black athletic tape
hour before she would have man who was beaten in week — meant zero of the about what effects there along her Achilles during
played Tsvetana Pironkova four sets by 20-year-old four female semifinalists at would be from the quick her first-round match Mon-
at Court Philippe Chatrier, American qualifier Sebas- Flushing Meadows made it and unusual shift from North day, but there were no ob-
her earliest exit from a ma- tian Korda. "It's disappoint- past the second round at America to Europe, from vious sign of trouble during
jor tournament in six years ing personally for Serena, Roland Garros. hard courts to red clay. the 7-6 (2), 6-0 victory over
and the most significant but it's disappointing for the Champion Naomi Osaka Azarenka wouldn't enter- Kristie Ahn.q

Hirschi, Van der Breggen win Fleche Wallonne classic races

HUY, Belgium (AP) — Marc onships road race on Sun- Vollering completed the
Hirschi extended his stellar day and his impressive Tour podium.
run in a breakout cycling de France. There, he won a "I think it was the closest of
season to win the Fleche stage, was a regular threat every year. It means a lot,"
Wallonne one-day classic in breakaways and won said Van der Breggen. "This
on Wednesday. the prize as the most com- finale is incredibly hard,
In his first start at the race bative rider overall in the winning six times is crazy."
defined by the short but three-week tour. Van der Breggen, who also
grueling Mur de Huy finish- In the women's race earlier, claimed gold in the road
ing climb, the 22-year-old world champion Anna van race at the 2016 Rio Olym-
Swiss rider went clear in the der Breggen won for the pics, secured a rare double
last 100 meters to win com- sixth straight time. at the world champion-
fortably ahead of Benoit Four days after claiming ships last week, winning
Cosnefroy. Michael Woods the world champion's rain- both the road race and the
was third. bow jersey, Van der Breg- time trial.
"It's just brutal," Hirschi said gen was able to follow an Normally scheduled in the
of the steep ride to the top. attack from Demi Vollering spring, the Fleche Wallonne
"You have to be strong in on the steep climb to the races were pushed back
the head to get through finish. Vollering ran out of to September because of
Dutch Anna Van Der Breggen, left, of Boels Dolmans team,
rides to win the stage one of the Belgian women cycling classic the pain." gas in the final meters and the coronavirus pandemic
and UCI World Tour race Fleche Wallonne in Huy, Belgium, Hirschi added his first win in Van der Breggen overpow- that brought the cycling
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. a classic to his bronze med- ered Cecilie Uttrup-Ludwig season to a halt for several
Associated Press al from the world champi- to prevail in the sprint. months.q