Mar 8, 2019; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Serena Williams (USA) as she defeated Victoria Azarenka (not pictured) during her second round match in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
March 10, 2019
(Reuters) – Serena Williams retired from the BNP Paribas Open while trailing Spain’s Garbine Muguruza 6-3 1-0 at Indian Wells on Sunday.
The former world number one walked to the chair after the first game of the second set and sat down, breathing heavily. After a discussion with supervisor Donna Kelso, the American retired.
Williams, 37, had shown signs of fatigue during the first set and after it was completed she called for a trainer and following a lengthy conversation returned to the court.
She retired after losing the first game.
Williams had taken a 3-0 lead in the first set before losing the next seven games.
Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, gave birth to a daughter in 2017 and returned to play last year.
She is currently ranked 10th in the world.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Ken Ferris)
