In her statement Williams said that she only recently learned the cause of her struggles. “I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon.’’
On the encouraging side, several players struck a blow for the up-and-coming American set, led by Christina McHale, 19, who upset eighth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. And fellow American Irina Falconi, 21, followed up her first win at a Grand Slam tournament with a second, upsetting 14th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, to reach the third round.
On the heels of Williams’s withdrawal, McHale’s victory was a win for the home team. McHale, who lives in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., trains at the National Tennis Center. This might explain why she looked entirely at home on the intimate Grandstand court, filled with family and friends.
“I’m so excited to have beaten a player like Marion, especially to have it happen here at the US Open,’’ McHale said.
McHale never wavered, even after an early break of serve, and used an overpowering first-set tie breaker to grab control of the match. She held her composure, even as the crowd became more and more energized and as Bartoli began betraying signs of frustration.
“I knew that I couldn’t play like any sloppy games,’’ McHale said.
Bartoli, who has come so close to winning major titles but has never broken through, had no answers for a player she could not have anticipated would be so relentless. She became the latest high seed to tumble, following No. 5 Petra Kvitova and No. 6 Li Na in the first round. Along with Williams’s withdrawal, it left the women’s draw in a state of near turmoil.
Williams’s bowing out yesterday was a shock because of its suddenness, but it fits the current arc of her career, which has been derailed by injuries and now illness. Williams had not played since Wimbledon, when she lost a dispirited fourth-round match to Tsvetana Pironkova.
