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Serena Williams and Venus Williams Withdraw From U.S. Open Due to Injuries

Venus Williams Withdraws From U.S. Open Hours After Sister Serena
Venus Williams and Serena Williams at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi in December 2018. Kamran Jebreili/AP/Shutterstock

Thursday, August 26, update:

Venus Williams will also sit out of the U.S. Open. Hours after her sister announced that she would not be competing, Venus, 41, shared similar news via Instagram.

“Not the best news everyone. I am joining @serenawilliams @rafaelnadal and @rogerfederer on the injured list,” she captioned a video on Wednesday. “It’s still going to be a great US Open and many thanks to the @usta for the wild card. I was looking forward to a great US Open, but it was not meant to be this year. I will be back as soon as I can. … Needless to say I will be spending every moment of my free time rehabbing my leg so I can get back to the courts ASAP. In fact I’m literally in the gym right now⏰! God speed!”

Original story:

Still in recovery. Serena Williams pulled out of the U.S. Open after withdrawing from Wimbledon earlier this summer.

Related: Serena Williams Through the Years: Tennis, Motherhood and More

“After careful consideration and following the advice of my doctors and medical team, I have decided to withdraw from the U.S. Open to allow my body to heal completely from a torn hamstring,” the tennis champ, 39, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, August 25.

“New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world and one of my favorite places to play — I’ll miss seeing the fans but will be cheering everyone on from afar,” she continued in her statement. “Thank you for your continued support and love. I’ll see you soon.”

Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, replied to her post with the comment, “You have tried everything.” The United States Tennis Association added, “Get well soon, champ!”

Serena Williams Withdraws From US Open Due Hamstring Injury Tennis Green Outfit
Serena Williams Playing in the French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France on June 6, 2021. CAROLINE BLUMBERG/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The 23-time Grand Slam champion previously withdrew from Wimbledon in June because of the same injury. Earlier this month, she sat out the Western and Southern Open in Ohio as well.

Related: Twinning Time! Serena Williams' Best Pics With Her Daughter Olympia

“I will miss all of my fans in Cincinnati whom I look forward to seeing every summer,” she said in a statement at the time. “I plan to be back on the court very soon.”

The Olympic gold medalist is the third major tennis star to withdraw from the U.S. Open, which starts in New York City on Monday, August 30. Roger Federer pulled out of the tournament earlier this month, citing his recovery from his third knee surgery, while four-time U.S. Open champ Rafael Nadal withdrew on Friday, August 20.

Williams, for her part, was hoping once again to try to tie Margaret Court’s record for the most singles titles held by any player, male or female. At the 2018 U.S. Open, she fell in the final round to Naomi Osaka. The following year, she lost again in the final to Bianca Andreescu. In 2020, when the tournament was held without fans because of the pandemic, the On the Line author fell in the semifinals to Victoria Azarenka.

Related: Swoon! Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian's Relationship Timeline

The S by Serena founder also sat out the 2020 Olympics earlier this summer, in part because of restrictions surrounding competitors bringing their families to the event.

“I would not be able to go function without my 3-year-old around,” she said during a May press conference. “I think I would be in a depression. We’ve been together every day of her life.”

The athlete shares daughter Olympia with husband Alexis Ohanian, whom she wed in 2017.

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