Serena won’t play in US Open

Associated Press

Serena Williams withdrew from the U.S. Open on Friday, saying she still is recovering from surgery to repair cuts on her right foot.

The top-ranked Williams has won three titles at Flushing Meadows, part of her 13 Grand Slam singles championships, the most among active women. Last year, she lost in the U.S. Open semifinals after a tirade at a line judge over a foot-fault call, an outburst that drew a record fine.

Williams said doctors advised her not to play so her foot can heal, and she called missing the tournament “one of the most devastating moments of my career.”

The 28-year-old American reportedly was hurt by a broken glass at a restaurant while she was in Munich last month — shortly after winning her fourth Wimbledon singles title on July 3, and before playing in an exhibition match against Kim Clijsters that drew a tennis-record crowd of 35,681 in Brussels on July 8.

Williams had surgery in Los Angeles on July 15. She already had pulled out of three hard-court tournaments she was scheduled to enter in preparation for the U.S. Open and also skipped playing World TeamTennis.

Williams’ withdrawal also means she won’t team with older sister Venus to defend the doubles title they won in New York last year. Venus, who hasn’t competed on tour since Wimbledon because of a bothersome left knee, is expected to play singles at Flushing Meadows.

Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion, said Serena Williams’ absence is a “fairly big-sized hit for the tournament.”

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to her about it, but I do know the U.S. Open is probably her favorite event, so obviously, if she’s this far out and is not going to play, it’s got to be something pretty serious, which is unfortunate,” Roddick said, “because there’s no doubt about who the top draw card is in New York City as far as the women’s side of the draw.”

Williams has participated in the last 16 major tournaments; the last one she missed was Wimbledon in 2006.

She won her first Grand Slam singles championship at the 1999 U.S. Open, and also took home the trophy from New York in 2002 and 2008.