Venus Williams bows out in first round of women’s singles at US Open
Aubrey de Souza, a 6-foot-6 player from Australia, was the only other woman to win a Grand Slam title in the first round.
NEW YORK — Venus Williams withdrew from her first-round match last weekend after breaking her right wrist, but the tennis star said she wants to play in the second set of the French Open.
Williams, the world No. 1 singles player as well as a former major singles champion, said she played only the first two sets for precautionary reasons after breaking the wrist Sunday.
She has lost four matches in a row, all on grass, and her ranking is slipping as her game loses efficiency. That is one reason she is leaving the US Open early.
“I haven’t thought about that at all,” Williams said. “I know I can play better. I’m not going to have a hard time playing my best tennis in the second set, whether it’s on grass or on carpet. I’m just going to take care of my wrist and hope that the wrist is fine.”
She said she hoped she would be able to continue for the French Open.
“I really hope I can play it for the French Open,” she said. “I know that I will be able to, but, you know, it’s really disappointing because it’s been a tough year for me and I’ve got to win a Major.”
The 20-year-old Williams has had a roller-coaster season, winning the Australian Open earlier this month and before that winning in Paris in March. After that she had her first match loss on grass, at Wimbledon, and then two at the US Open when she lost in the second set in her first two matches.
“It’s been a tough year,” Williams said. “And to be sitting down here right now looking up at these clouds, this gorgeous, clean blue sky and realizing that I can’t play right now doesn’t make it any more relaxing. I just have to continue playing.”
Williams was drawn No. 7 and said she