Serena Pulls Groin, Vaidisova Also Exits from Charleston

CHARLESTON, SC, USA - With Venus Williams' emphatic first round win earlier in the day, the stage seemed set for a glorious day for the marquee names at the Tier I, $1,340,000 Family Circle Cup. But that was not to be, as Serena Williams and Nicole Vaidisova, who kicked off second round action, were bundled out of the tournament much earlier than expected.

Williams, seeded No.3 here and coming off consecutive title runs at the Australian Open and Miami, succumbed to a right groin strain while trailing 5-3 in the opening set to Chan Yung-Jan, a qualifier from Chinese Taipei. Williams was actually behind 5-2 but claimed one last game before stopping.

"In practice yesterday I was working on some sliding and I just strained it a bit, and I took the rest of the day off, and today; I was hoping it would get better," Williams said. "I figured I'd have tomorrow off. If I could just get through today, I'd have tomorrow to recover and then hopefully get ready for Thursday.

"I think I just have a slight strain on it; I don't know the exact diagnosis. I've got to go and see, but somewhere in that neighborhood."

After retiring from the match, the American, an eight-time Grand Slam champion, addressed the crowd and expressed her disappointment.

"I was excited to play here, and am very disappointed since I have never won this tournament. I'll be back again even if it kills me; and it may actually kill me."

Chan now advances to the third round, where she could face Venus Williams, who plays Russian Vasilisa Bardina in a second round match Wednesday.

Prior to the injury shocker in the evening there was another surprise on stadium court, as Vaidisova, the tournament's top seed, was sent packing by fellow teen Michaella Krajicek in three tough sets, 46 64 63. In a battle between two of the biggest servers on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Krajicek prevailed despite hitting fewer aces (4-9) and more double faults (10-8); but she grabbed critical breaks, in the seventh game of the second set and the fifth and last games of the third to gain revenge for a loss in the pair's only prior encounter, in the same round of Miami just a few weeks ago.

Krajicek took home her second career Top 10 win; last June at 's-Hertogenbosch she defeated Elena Dementieva in the semifinals.

Vaidisova became the first No.1 seed to fall this early in the 35-year history of the Family Circle Cup.

The third second round match went on the court after Williams' injury retirement, with No.8 seed Li Na easily dispatching Australian veteran Nicole Pratt, 61 64, in one hour, 13 minutes. The Chinese trailblazer seemed headed for a much easier victory, racing to a 61 30 lead, before Pratt won three of four games to even things to 4-all; but Li was not fazed and closed it out routinely two games later.

Chan, Krajicek and Li are now into to the last 16; the 13 remaining second round duels will all take the court on Wednesday. The only Top 4 seeds still standing, No.2 Jelena Jankovic and No.4 Dinara Safina, are among a packed line-up. (WTA)