Former world number one, Serena Williams, has withdrawn from next week’s US Open tennis tournament, saying her torn hamstring had not completely healed ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year.
The American, a six-time winner at Flushing Meadows, has had an injury-marred season and limped out of her first-round match at Wimbledon in tears due to the leg injury.
The 39-year-old, who has been on the hunt for an elusive 24th major, skipped the Olympic Games in Tokyo and also opted out of the Cincinnati Masters, a tune-up event to the US Open.
Williams is the latest big name to pull out of the tournament after reigning men’s champion, Austrian Dominic Thiem, and four-time winner Rafa Nadal ended their 2021 season due to injuries.
The main draw of the US Open gets underway in New York on Monday.
