Serena out of China Open with injury
Serena out of China Open with injury
BEIJING — Defending champion Serena Williams has pulled out of the China Open with a left knee injury.
The top-ranked Williams had been due to face Australian Samantha Stosur in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Playing with strapping on her knee, the American beat Lucie Safarova 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 in the third round Thursday evening and then skipped her postmatch press conference because of swelling in the knee.
Williams retired from the Wuhan Open a week ago during her first-round match with a viral illness. Her sister, Venus, also withdrew from the China Open this week, citing a virus.
McIlroy 9 back after Dunhill first round
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Rory McIlroy found himself nine shots off the lead after a 1-over-par 73 in the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday.
Four days after celebrating a third straight European Ryder Cup victory, McIlroy could manage just one birdie against two bogeys at Carnoustie, one of the three courses.
Oliver Wilson of England, ranked 791 places below the top-ranked McIlroy, equaled the Carnoustie course record with an 8-under 64.
The Associated Press