Serena quits Wuhan after illness

World No 1 Serena Williams withdrew from the Wuhan Open on Tuesday after falling ill midway through the first set of her second-round match against Frenchwoman Alize Cornet.

The American top seed was leading 6-5 after breaking Cornet's serve with a smash only for the doctor to come on court at the changeover and take the 32-year-old's temperature.

Williams, who was playing in her first match since winning her 18th Grand Slam singles title at the US Open this month, sat solemnly, head down with a towel around her neck and a thermometer in her mouth before opting against continuing.