ComScore

Serena Williams Tearfully Withdraws from Match—Watch Her Opponent Console Her

Serena Williams suffered an injury over the weekend that forced her to withdraw from the Roger Cup Finals. Even though she was upset at having to let her fans down, there was one silver lining: a wonderful display of sportsmanship.

Yesterday, during Williams’s first set, she called a medical timeout while behind 3-1. After speaking with the 37-year-old tennis star, the umpire called the match, making her opponent Bianca Andreescu the first Canadian to win the Rogers Cup in 50 years.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner was in pain and clearly upset. So, before Andreescu started celebrating her win, she walked over to Williams and gave her a hug. Thankfully, the touching moment was caught on camera.

Soon, Williams was smiling with gratitude.

She explained her reason for retiring from the match when she gave a speech during the award ceremony: “It started yesterday in my match and it just got worse. Just my whole back just completely spasmed, and to a point where I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t really move, Williams shared. “And so I was just trying to figure out, ‘How do you play a match where you have no rotation?’" The answer? You really can’t.

“I’m not a crier, but, thank you guys,” Williams said, choking back tears as she accepted the check for second-place. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do it today. I tried but I just couldn’t do it.”

She added words of appreciation for her opponent, saying, “Bianca you’re a great sports person, woman. And thanks to my team. It’s been a tough year, but we’ll keep going.”

Consider this a minor hiccup in what will continue to be an illustrious career, Serena.



lex

Cat mom, yogi, brunch enthusiast

Lex is an LA native who's deeply obsessed with picnics, Slim Aarons, rosé, Hollywood history and Joan Didion. She joined PureWow in early 2017.