French Open: Serena Williams withdraws from Roland Garros after 'struggling to walk'

American had arrived in Paris nursing an Achilles tendon injury

Serena Williams returns the ball to Kristie Ahn during their women's singles first round tennis match at the Philippe Chatrier court on Day 2 of The Roland Garros 2020 French Open tennis tournament. AFP

Serena Williams of the US reacts as she plays against Kristie Ahn of the US. AFP

Serena Williams screams on court. Reuters

Serena Williams returns the ball against Kristie Ahn. Reuters

Serena Williams has withdrawn from the French Open, tournament officials have confirmed. Reuters

Winner Serena Williams of the US celebrates at the end of her women's singles first round tennis match against Kristie Ahn of the US. AFP

Serena Williams serves the ball to Kristie Ahn. AFP

Serena Williams eturns the ball to Kristie Ahn. AFP

Serena Williams of the US reacts as she plays against Kristie Ahn. AFP

Serena Williams has withdrawn from the French Open. AFP

Serena Williams reacts as she plays Kristie Ahn. EPA

Serena Williams in action. EPA

Serena Williams in action during her first round match against Kristie Ahn. Reuters

Serena Williams. Reuters

Serena Williams during her first round match against Kristie Ahn. Reuters

Serena Williams' bid for a 24th Grand Slam title suffered another blow on Wednesday after the American withdrew from the French Open.

The 39-year-old three-time Roland Garros champion had arrived in Paris carrying an Achilles tendon injury.

She had been due to face Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round later Wednesday.

"The Achilles didn't have enough time to heal after the US Open," said Williams.

"I was struggling to walk and that is a tell-tale sign that I should try to recover."

The problem first flared earlier this month at the French Open during Williams' semi-final loss to Victoria Azarenka.

She conceded ahead of the start of the French Open that she was not "100 per cent physically" but would still compete.

She spoke again of the injury after her first round win over fellow American Kristie Ahn and apparently aggravated it while practising for her second-round match.

"An Achilles injury is not one you want to play with as it can get worse," she said.

Sixth-seeded Williams said she was yet to decide whether she would play again this season, saying she needed two weeks complete rest, but allayed any fears she might call time on her career.

"I need four to six weeks of sitting and doing nothing," she said.

"It's more than likely that I won't play another tournament this year.

"I love playing tennis. I love competing. It's my job and I'm pretty good at it still ... I'm so close to some things and I feel like I'm almost there ... that's what keeps me going."

Williams also pulled out of the French Open in 2018 before a last-16 clash with Maria Sharapova.

Dutch fifth seed Kiki Bertens was accused of faking injury as she was taken off court in a wheelchair after a stormy second-round win over former finalist Sara Errani.

Bertens triumphed 7-6, 3-6, 9-7 in a three-hour 11-minute clash which left her in cramps and Italian Errani screaming an obscenity.

Errani, the 2012 runner-up, had a match point but was also handed a time violation for taking too long to serve. At one stage, she even served underarm.

The marathon tie featured 24 breaks of serve with 28-year-old Bertens firing 61 winners but committing 63 unforced errors.

For 2016 semi-finalist Bertens, who needed the wheelchair after cramping left her unable to move, it was a first win in six meetings with the Italian.

Errani stormed off court, refusing to 'racquet tap' with Bertens before screaming the obscenity as she stomped off Court 14 having also appeared to mock her opponent's injury.

"After one hour, she's injured but then she's running around like never before," said Errani who lost the 2012 final in Paris to Maria Sharapova.

"She leaves the court in a chair and now she's in the locker room and eating in the restaurant, perfect. She exaggerated."

"It made me very angry, so well done to her but she can win without doing that."

Bertens, however, insisted her injury was genuine and that she had cramped in "my left leg, right foot and both hands" during the match.

"At the end I had total body cramps," said Bertens who has a tour-leading 79 wins on clay in the last four years.

She hit back at Errani who she said had squandered a series of opportunities to wrap up the tie.

"She can say whatever she feels like and if I was [faking] then maybe I should take up acting classes - I am not sure what she was thinking.

"The cramps came and went in the match. I couldn't even fist pump because my fingers wouldn't move."