Serena Williams retires from Indiana Wells match

The former world number one walked to the chair after the first game of the second set and sat down, breathing heavily. After a discussion with supervisor Donna Kelso, the American retired.

(Reuters)

Williams, 37, had shown signs of fatigue during the first set and after it was completed she called for a trainer and following a lengthy conversation returned to the court.

She retired after losing the first game.

Williams had taken a 3-0 lead in the first set before losing the next seven games.

Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, gave birth to a daughter in 2017 and returned to play last year.

She is currently ranked 10th in the world.