February 20, 2010

Serena out of Billie Jean King Cup Exhibition

NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams has pulled out of an exhibition at Madison Square Garden because of a left leg injury. Williams announced her withdrawal from the BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup on Thursday. She'll be replaced in the four-player field by former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic.

The 12-time Grand Slam singles champion was to face Kim Clijsters on March 1 in what would have been their first meeting since Williams' infamous tirade during the semifinals at the 2009 U.S. Open that drew a record US$82,500 fine. The leg injury has forced Williams to miss tournaments in Paris and Dubai. Williams' sister, Venus, will play Svetlana Kuznetsova in the other semifinal at the one-night event in New York.

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