Serena Williams Withdraws at Indian Wells
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Steve Bardens/Getty Images(INDIAN WELLS, Calif.) — Serena Williams withdrew before her semifinal at the BNP Paribas Open due to a right knee injury on Friday.
Williams made the announcement on the court before her match and walked off to a few boos.
“I have a tremendous amount of inflammation in my knee, and it’s going to go away. Unfortunately I just need a couple of days,” Williams said. “That’s the most frustrating part.”
Williams was playing at Indian Wells for the first time in 14 years after boycotting the tournament.
“I feel that was 14 years ago and this is now. I did the best that I could at this event, and I really am happy to have put a lot of that behind me,” Serena said Friday. “If I would have known I had to pull out, I would have played anyway just to have an opportunity to be back at this tournament and to be able to play.”
Simona Halep will now move on to the finals on Sunday.
“It’s really tough for her that she had to withdraw,” Halep said about Williams. “I know how it is when you are injured. It’s dangerous, and you have to take care of yourself.”
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