The much-anticipated clash between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova never took place as the former withdrew from Roland-Garros due to an arm injury.

There was much talk during these past two days after Williams responded to claims that Sharapova wrote about the American in her autobiography. Dismissing the parts of the book that she had read as ‘100% hearsay’, Williams was particularly unimpressed by Sharapova’s description of her after her defeat to the Russian in the 2004 Wimbledon final.

‘I, unfortunately, have been having some issue with my pectoral muscle,’ she told reporters in a press conference. ‘Right now I can’t actually serve, so it’s hard to play. I can’t physically serve.

‘It’s very difficult because I love playing Maria. Her game matches so well against mine.’

Williams said that the new injury first surfaced during her third-round victory over Julia Gorges, and efforts to strap her shoulder to protect the muscle made little impact during her doubles defeat alongside sister Venus Williams on Sunday.

‘It didn’t start before I got here,’ Williams said. ‘It was really painful and I didn’t know what it was. I’m going to get an MRI tomorrow, I’ll stay here and see some doctors here, but I won’t know about Wimbledon before that.

‘I’m beyond disappointed. I gave up so much – time with my daughter, time with my family. I put everything on the court all for this moment. So it’s really difficult to be in the situation, but I try to think positive and think of the bigger picture, the next events and the rest of the year.’

Sharapova will face the winner between Gabrine Muguruza and Lesia Tsurenko, who face each other later on Monday.

Photo: Corinne Dubreuil / FFT