American world number one Venus Williams on Tuesday withdrew at the eleventh hour from her second-round match with Russia's Anna Kournikova at the $1.244 million Tennis Masters Series tournament in Rome. Top seed Williams announced her decision to the crowd on court and then immediately held a press conference, explaining that she had aggravated a wrist injury sustained picking up her bag.
Organisers quickly scheduled lucky loser Lilia Osterloh to play Kournikova.
"I hit this morning," said Williams. "I was OK but through the day it got worse with more swelling during the afternoon and I was not able to hit without pain."
Asked when she had told organisers, who had scheduled the match for 20:30 PM, she said: "This evening. About eight (o'clock)."
Williams said that she did not think the injury was serious, saying, "I hope it won't be serious. I will take some time off and finally see something in Rome." Bureau Report