Serena Williams withdraws from Swedish Open with elbow injury

After winning the first three Grand Slam tennis events of the year, Serena Williams has withdrawn from this week’s Swedish Open because of a right elbow injury.

“I was having some pain in my elbow, and I felt a little bit in my match,” Williams said, according to the Associated Press. “But this morning it really exploded .... I really couldn’t hit serves.”

Williams said she first experienced discomfort in the elbow during her first-round match Wednesday against Ysaline Bonaventure of Belgium. But it wasn’t enough to slow her down en route to a 6-2, 6-1 win. Thursday morning the pain was worse, however, and Williams said she was forced to withdraw.

“I always enjoy my time here in Bastad. I have such a great time. My fans here are really amazing, I love all you guys,” Williams told fans on the court.

There was no timetable offered for Williams’ return or indication of how severe the injury is.

Williams is a 21-time Grand Slam singles champion and currently holds all four major titles going back to last year’s U.S. Open. If she can win the 2015 U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 31, she’ll be the first woman to win all four events in the same year since Steffi Graff accomplished the feat in 1988.

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