Paris June 4 (IANS) American tennis great Serena Williams pulled out of her French Open Round-of-16 clash on Monday due to injury sending Russian Maria Sharapova into the quarter-finals.
"Unfortunately I ve been having some issues with my pec muscle. Right now I cannot actually serve so it s hard to play when I can t physically serve " Serena told a press conference just a moment before her fourth-round clash with Sharapova which would have been their 22nd encounter.
Serena 36 played her first Grand Slam tournament in Paris since giving birth to a daughter last September.
Serena a 23-time Grand Slam singles title winner had won 18 straight matches against Sharapova prior to Monday s scheduled head-to-head.

--IANS pur/mr