From the ArcaMax Publishing, Sports Update Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/sports/s-348859-276944
ROME (UPI) -- Serena Williams' back injury was the early headline at
Friday's quarterfinals of the $1.34 million Italian Open tennis
tournament in Rome.
The fifth-seeded Williams, a seven-time winner in Grand Slam events,
opted out of her scheduled match against unseeded Alize Cornet of
France when she sustained the injury during practice.
"It happened all of a sudden," Williams said. "I went for a shot and
then my back got a little stuck. I tried to wait until the last
possible moment to see if I could play."
Cornet joined defending champion Jelena Jankovic and sixth-seeded Anna
Chakvetadze for Saturday's semifinals.
Jankovic, the fourth seed, defeated No. 7 seed Venus Williams, 5-7,
6-2, 6-3, while Russia's Chakvetadze ousted Tsvetana Pironkova of
Bulgaria, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
In the day's late match, second-seeded Maria Sharapova was trailing
No. 9 Patty Schnyder.