SERENA RETIRES IN ROUND ONE

Serena Williams retired with a sore right thigh while trailing Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 0-6, 0-3 in the first round of the Zurich Open. Williams, who has qualified for the season-ending WTA Championship, had asked to play yesterday despite coming off a three-set loss to Elena Dementieva at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow on Sunday. She reached the quarter finals in Stuttgart, Germany, the week before. Eighth-seed Amelie Mauresmo8217;s slump continued as she lost 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 to Ukraine8217;s Alona Bondarenko. Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli defeated Michaela Krajicek of the Netherlands 6-4. 6-1.