Serena Williams’ run at the Rogers Cup came to an end in tragic circumstances after she was forced to retire from the WTA Rogers Cup in Toronto in the final against Bianca Andreescu.
Williams lasted just four games in the final before retiring from the encounter because of an injury. It was an upper back injury that gave way and left a tearful Serena conceding the tie to the unseeded Andreescu in the final.
Andreescu gave Serena a long hug at the net where the American broke down after deciding she would find it difficult to continue.
Earlier, the Canadian had reached the final with four back to back three-set wins, before defeating Sofie Kenin in straight sets in the semi-final. She overcame fellow Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in the first round, defeated Daria Kasatkina in the second before shocking the fifth seeded Kiki Bertens and third seeded Karolina Pliskova in her next two rounds.
Williams’ entry to the final saw her get a first round bye and was tested only once before her title-decider. Unheralded Marie Bouzkova took her to three sets in the semi-final before the American saw her through and made it to the final.
Serena also defeated Elise Mertens, Ekaterina Alexandrova and second seeded Naomi Osaka in her earlier matches.
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