Serena Williams has pulled out of this month's Family Circle Cup for a second straight year, this time due to a continuing knee injury. Williams hasn't played since winning the Australian Open earlier this year, when she beat Justine Henin in the final. Williams won the Family Circle Cup in 2008.
"I was really hoping my knee would heal in time to play the Family Circle Cup, as it's one of my favorite stops on the Tour," said Williams. "Unfortunately my knee has not fully healed in time and I am now looking forward to returning to the WTA Tour in Europe. I wish the tournament, players and fans a great week." Last year, Williams pulled out of the event due to a left leg injury.
Defending champion Sabine Lisicki of Germany also withdrew due to a left ankle injury. Last year, she upended Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in the final in Charleston. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to defend my title. It's heartbreaking for me to not be able to come back," said Lisicki. "I'm sorry, but I hope to be back next year to get the great support in Charleston and win the nice trophy again."
5 comments:
I have to say that Serena and her sister are really losing a lot of fans this year because of this so-called injury pullout foolishness. She issues a statement that she is injured yet both her and her sister are taking part in the Williams Invitational playing both singles and doubles without bandages or strapping. Sick and tired of this crap from Serena and Venus. Just sick of it.
This was expected. I must say I'm a little worried as a Serena fan. She seems to be out galavanting to one event and another left and right. She's out on the beach jet-skiing and is always wearing heels. Is that supposed to help in healing her knee? I hope she's preparing herself for the French Open.
Justin and Karen,
You guys are reading my mind. I agree with the both of you whole-heartedly. She hasn't played since the end of January (Australian Open) and that seriously bothers me. I give Venus a pass because she has been playing A LOT lately and she won a few titles along the way, went to play the BJK Cup in New York (and made the Miami Final). If Serena doesn't win the "calendar" slam this year (since she's obviously only focusing on Slams) I will be highly disappointed.
I can't speak for Venus, I appreciate her as one of the best grass court players of all time and as a champion in gender equality in the sport but the Miami final is the major reason why I don't like to watch her, she's just so unpredictable and inconsistent. That being said, she's played a lot of tennis and went on a decent match win streak, you can't be mad at that. Serena on the other hand has pulled out of everything following the Australian Open and has appeared on the list of every red carpet event known to man. I'm not saying she's not practicing and not rehabbing that knee, she does look the fittest I've seen her in a while, but she needs to get back to the sport that transcended her into the celebrity that she loves to be. No more resting on your laurels Serena, the other girls are just itching to knock you off the top spot.
This is what is so hard about playing tennis: when you are out with an injury, all eyes are on you. It may seem like Serena is exaggerating her injury but I doubt it. The older you get, the longer it takes for your injuries to heal. When Serena finally comes back, it will be worth the while.
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