Venus Williams withdraws in 3rd round

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Venus Williams lasted just seven points in her third-round match Friday at the Australian Open, forced to withdraw with the stomach or thigh muscle injury that she sustained two days earlier.

After having lost the first game to Andrea Petkovic of Germany and trailing 30-0 in the second, Williams stretched to the right to return a serve, hit the ball and then cried out in pain, clutching toward her stomach on the right side.

Her right thigh was already heavily bandaged from the injury she suffered in her second-round match on Wednesday, when she managed to beat Sandra Zahlavova in three sets.

It marked the first time that Williams has retired in a Grand Slam singles match.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.

Source : http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus11/news/story?id=6044258