by Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam winner, has withdrawn from next week’s US Open due to a hamstring issue, she said on her Instagram page on Wednesday. “I have decided to withdraw from the US Open after careful deliberation and following the advice of my doctors and medical team,” stated the 39-year-old American, “to allow my body to fully recuperate from a torn hamstring.”
Serena Williams of the United States has withdrawn from the next U.S. Open grand slam competition, citing a hamstring issue that forced her out of Wimbledon as not entirely recovered, delaying her four-year quest to equal Margaret Court’s all-time grand slam record even.
She won her first Major as a teenager at the 1999 US Open, paving the way for her dominance of the women’s game. Williams, who has dropped to number 22 in the world, last missed the US Open in 2017 due to the birth of her daughter.
She reached the finals in both 2018 and 2019, but lost both times, adding to her anguish as she tries to match Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam singles championships. “I won’t be able to see the fans, but I’ll be rooting for everyone from afar. New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world and one of my favourite locations to play. I’ll be in touch shortly, “She expressed herself on social media.
“I have decided to withdraw from the US Open to allow my body to properly heal from a torn hamstring after great consideration and following the advise of my physicians and medical team,” she wrote on her Instagram page on Wednesday. “New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world, and it’s one of my favourite places to play; I’ll miss seeing the people, but I’ll be rooting for everyone from far away.” She expressed her gratitude by saying: “Thank you for your unwavering love and support.”
Serena Williams was left “heartbroken” by her abrupt departure from Wimbledon this summer, and the announcement comes two months later. Due to a leg injury, she had to withdraw from her first-round match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Shortly after, the seven-time Wimbledon champion opted not to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, and she also skipped the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati last week to give herself more time to recover from.
Serena Williams last missed the US Open in 2017, when she took a vacation from tennis after the birth of her daughter Olympia. She returned to the tennis scene in March 2018 and has competed in every Grand Slam tournament since then.
Dominic Thiem, the defending men’s champion, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal are among the players who have had to withdraw from this year’s last Grand Slam. On August 30, the US Open, which will be held at Flushing Meadows in New York, will begin.
