Williams arrived at Wimbledon this week on the heels of a report that she was unhappy at excessive targeting from US Anti-Doping Agency drug testers.
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The 31-year-old released a statement at 4.30pm, saying: “It’s with regret I’m withdrawing from Wimbledon.
Ranked 183 after just three tournaments back, the seven-time champion will go into Wimbledon as the 25th seed, the seeding committee having deviated from the WTA ranking list, an exception because she is coming back after maternity leave.
The Canadian tweeted: “It is with a heavy heart that I am withdrawing from Roland Garros. I have many great memories there, but I know I need to continue working hard to put myself in the best position when I step out on the court. Thank you all for your support and see you soon on the grass.”
Williams triumphed in the last two years she has competed at Wimbledon (2015 and 2016) but did not defend her title last year, as she was pregnant.
The June 18 to June 24 tournament is set to be the Russian’s first on grass since she reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2015.
The British number one has not played a competitive match since his defeat in the quarter finals at SW17 last year and he pulled out of a planned return at the Brisbane Open earlier this month.
Both players knew a win would secure a passage to the semi-finals as they held identical 1-1 records in White Group play at the season-ending event.
The Swiss ace has enjoyed a resurgent 2017, winning six ATP Tour titles, including two Grand Slam triumphs at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
His strong serve was the key as he played aces after aces, winners after winners overwhelming his teenage opponent
Former world No 1 Djokovic is likely to fall further down the rankings by the end of the year after he announced he will not play again this season due to an elbow injury.
The 31-year-old Spaniard and Federer have both enjoyed a renaissance in their tennis careers this year, with Federer moving on to 19 Grand Slam titles following success at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while Nadal claimed his 10th French Open crown.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion was forced to retire in the second set of his Wimbledon quarter-final with Tomas Berdych earlier this month and later revealed that he had been suffering from pain in his right elbow for over a year-and-a-half.
By this remarkable feat, the 35-year-old six-time champion joins French Open winner, Rafa Nadal, in the season-ending tournament at the O2 Arena in London later in the year in London.
But he was soon smiling as that familiar warm feeling of waking up as Wimbledon champion seeped back into his mind on Monday morning.
The match was played on Sunday
Both players set up three break points during the hard-fought opener
The seventh seed fell behind to the conqueror of Andy Murray, but he appeared to benefit from having considerably less time on court at SW19 to run out a 7-6 4-6 7-6 7-5 winner
Konta, 26, was bidding to become the first British woman to reach a Wimbledon singles final in 40 years
Cilic, who triumphed 3-6 7-6(6) 7-5 5-7 6-1, will now face Sam Querrey in the semi-finals after the American upset home favourite Andy Murray.