'I'm struggling to walk!' Serena OUT of Roland Garros, achilles injury forces Williams to withdraw from French Open

Serena Williams' quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam has been extended a little longer. The French Open announced the 39-year-old has been forced out of this year's tournament due to an achilles injury.

READ MORE: Serena Williams overcomes first-set struggle to reach second round at French Open

Williams pulled out with the injury before a last 64 clash with Tsvetana Pironkova on Wednesday, thereby handing the Bulgarian a walkover into the third round. 

The achilles suffered damage in Serena's US Open semi-final loss to Victoria Azarenka, and Williams explained the knock had not had time to heal properly.

"I love playing in Paris, I actually adore the clay. It's fun for me. And I really wanted to give an effort here," the three-time champion at Roland Garros said in a press conference.

"So it's my achilles that didn't have enough time to properly heal after The [US] Open. I was able to get it somewhat better but just looking long term in this tournament will I be able to get through enough matches and for me I don't think I could. 

"(I'm) struggling to walk so that's a tell-tale sign that I should try to recover."