Six-time US Open winner Serena Williams has pulled out of this year’s edition of the tournament due to a torn hamstring. The 39-year-old lost in the semi-finals of last year’s competition, losing to Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 3-6, 3-6.
In a statement on social media, Williams said she is withdrawing from the competition to completely heal from her torn hamstring injury.
“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,” said Serena Williams.
She stated that New York is one of her favorite places to play tennis and said she would miss playing there this year. Serena also suffered an injury in her last Grand Slam, Wimbledon, where she injured her right leg in the first-round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich. She had to retire from the match and was knocked out of the tournament.
Serena Williams’ sister Venus, also withdrew from this year’s US Open due to a leg injury. Venus, who has won the US Open twice, was disappointed at pulling out of the competition due to a persistent leg injury.
“It’s super, super, super disappointing, I’m having some issues with my leg all this summer, and just couldn’t work through it. I tried my best here in Chicago, but I just was unable to figure out the equation. And there’s been so many times where I’ve been able to figure it out, even not in the best of my health, but this time, I just couldn’t make any miracles work,” said the older Williams sister.
Venus and Serena Williams are the latest big-name stars to withdraw from the US Open. Defending men’s champion Dominic Thiem, tennis great Roger Federer, former champs Rafael Nadal, and Stan Wawrinka, are some of the few to pull out of the men’s event. World No. 5 Sofia Kenin has also pulled out of the women’s singles event at the US Open.
This year’s men’s and women’s Wimbledon winners, Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty are the top seeds at the US Open. This year’s edition of the US Open will be held in front of packed crowds at Flushing Meadows, but the qualifying stage of the competition will not have any fans in attendance.
Djokovic is seen as the overwhelming favorite in the men’s draw, while Barty and defending champion Naomi Osaka are the favorites in the women’s draw at the US Open.
