Tennis 2010: Serena Williams retracts from Toray Pan Pacific Open
Ranked no. 1 in the World, America’s Serena Williams pulled out of the 2010 Toray Pan Pacific Open, to be played in Tokyo, due to the slow recovery process of her injured right foot.
Williams was meant to return to the tennis scene, after having missed out on all of the 2010 U.S. Open action. However, an appearance at the Ariake Tennis Forest Park, in Tokyo, Japan, would not have gone in her favor.
Williams defeated Russia’s Vera Zvonareva 6-3 and 6-2, in straight sets to win the championship. However, according to the Women’s Tennis Association tour, her recent foot injury caused her to pull out of the 2010 U.S. Open.
Right after clinching her 2010 Wimbledon Women’s singles title, Serena injured her right foot, accidentally cutting it on glass, at a restaurant in Britain.
After having undergone surgery in July, due to Williams’ foot injury, the professional’s doctors advised her against competing at the U.S. Open.
Serena exclaimed that she was extremely saddened and frustrated to have had to miss out on the U.S. Open. She also stated that grand slams are her life and soul and that she would miss it more than anyone could ever imagine.
Prior to her foot injury, Serena got off to a good start by clinching the 2010 Australian Open title, defeating Belgium’s Justine Henin six games to four in the first set, 3-6 in the second, and 6-2 in the deciding third set.
Shortly after which, the professional made it through to the quarter-finals of the French Open, that same year. Serena was however, made to face defeat at the hands of Australia’s Samantha Stosur, as the sportswoman thrashed her 6-2, 7-6 and 8-6 in the championship
final.
Unfortunately, the Toray Pan Pacific Open marks the fifth tournament that Serena has had to miss since the injury. Williams is now expected to make her return in November 2010, for the U.S. Fed Cup final.
As for the Toray Pan Pacific Open, as much as Serena will be missed, the show must go on. The tournament will feature defending champion, Russia’s Maria Sharapova amongst Russia’s Vera Zvonareva and Italy’s Francesca Schiavone.
Sharapova defeated Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic at the 2009 Toray Pan Pacific Open based upon her five to two game win in the first set of the match, right after which, Jankovic was forced to retire due to a wrist injury.
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