Masur defends Venus Williams shock retirement from Australian Open

MELBOURNE - Australian tennis great Wally Masur has defended Venus Williams after the former world No.1’s shock retirement from the Australian Open on Friday night due to injury.

Williams was jeered off centre court at Melbourne Park after her shock exit from the tournament just seven points into her third-round clash with German Andrea Petkovic.

The 2003 Australian Open finalist injured the psoas muscle in her groin in the second round and was heavily strapped heading into Friday’s match, FOX Sports reports.

Williams took to the court heavily strapped and was clearly feeling the pain from the outset.

Just seven points into the match she walked to her courtside chair and briefly sat down before walking over to Petkovic and conceding defeat.

Former WTA-Tour player Nicole Pratt said it was a disappointing situation that could have been handled better by the American.

“Normally Venus is such a class act, full of integrity and I think last night she should have let the tournament organisers know in advance that she was very, very iffy. Supposedly they (tournament officials) went and asked her and she said she was OK to play,” Pratt said.

But Masur backed her choice to try and fight through the pain and warned those writing Williams’s career obituaries to hold their fire.

“She has flown 10,000 miles to play the Australian Open. She’s been one of the great champions in the women’s game in the past 10 years,” Masur said.

“The one thing she has been is one of the great competitors and fighters on the tour. She was strapped up; she warmed up without doing too much movement. In a match situation she’s going to be stretched and she’s going to have to find out if she can cope. You have got to give yourself a chance,” he said. (ANI)