Injured Serena Williams forced to withdraw from Rolland-Garros 2020, Pironkova qualifies

Serena Williams has been forced to withdraw from Roland-Garros 2020 ahead of her second round, citing an Achilles injury.

The 39-year-old American was scheduled to face Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in a last-64 clash on Wednesday.

Williams sustained the injury during her US Open semi-final defeat to Victoria Azarenka earlier this month.

"I really wanted to give an effort here. (I'm) struggling to walk so that's a tell-tale sign that I should try to recover" Get well soon, Serena!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/PekxZ4tSzj

The three-time Roland-Garros champion says the issue will require two weeks of rest followed by four to six weeks of rehabilitation.

Pironkova, who returned from a three-and-a-half-year absence at the US Open earlier this month and made a stunning run to the quarter-finals, now advances to the third round in Paris.