6-time US Open Champion Serena Williams has withdrawn from the tournament due to a hamstring injury.
She is the next high-profile name to withdraw, following Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and defending men’s champion Dominic Thiem.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Williams said that “after careful consideration and following the advice of my doctors and medical team, I have decided to withdraw from the US Open to allow my body to heal completely from a torn hamstring.”
“New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world and one of my favourite places to play – I’ll miss seeing the fans but will be cheering everyone on from afar.”
Williams last played at Wimbledon in June where she suffered the injury in her first-round exit, forced to retire against Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
She later pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics and last week’s Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati, focusing instead on her recovery and rehabilitation.
Her last Grand Slam victory came at the Australian Open in 2017. She has since lost four finals as she continues to chase a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.
It is unclear whether Williams will return in 2021.
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Featured image by Edwin Martinez from The Bronx – US Open 2013 Part 2 557Uploaded by Flickrworker, CC BY 2.0; no changes made.
