US Open: Williams’ sisters withdraw from event with injuries

Venus Williams and sister Serena have both withdrawn from the US Open, taking off more gloss from the final Grand Slam of the year which has lost more high-profile players.

Serena, 39, wrote on social media on Tuesday that she needed time to allow her body to “heal completely” from a torn hamstring.

Venus, 41, then withdrew hours later with a leg injury.

Also out of the event is women’s fifth seed Sofia Kenin who tweeted her withdrawal after testing positive for Covid-19.

The tournament, which begins on 30th August, will also be without defending men’s champion Dominic Thiem, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

It will be the first time since 2003 that neither Williams sister has appeared at Flushing Meadows.

“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,” Serena, six national titles holder, wrote on Instagram.

“New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world and one of my favourite places to play – I’ll miss seeing the fans but will be cheering on from afar.

“Thank you for your continued love and support. I’ll see you soon.”

She suffered the hamstring injury during her first-round exit at Wimbledon in June, when the seven-time champion was forced to retire against Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Venus, a two-time US Open champion and seven-time Grand Slam winner, said the leg injury had been affecting her throughout the summer.

She lost her opening match at the Chicago Women’s Open on Monday and has not gone beyond the second round of a Slam this year.

“This time I just couldn’t make any miracles work,” Venus said in a post on Twitter.

“I tried my best here in Chicago but I just was unable to figure out the equation.”

The US Open was Williams other chance to equal a record 24th Grand Slam title – after she claimed her 23rd major at the Australian Open in 2017.

Williams lifted her first major trophy at Flushing Meadows in 1999, defeating Swiss player Martina Hingis to become the first African American woman since Althea Gibson in 1958 – and the first in the Open Era – to win a Grand Slam honour.

In the men’s event, Austrian Thiem withdrew with a wrist injury, 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer is preparing to have further knee surgery and world number five – Nadal – is out because of a foot injury. PHOTO/COURTESY