Key Sentence:
- Six-time champion Serena Williams is the latest toy to retire from the US Open next week.
- In a post on social media, the 39-year-old US star said he needed time to allow his body “to heal completely” from the ruptured tendon.
Williams joins Dominic Thiem, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, and Rafael Nadal, who withdrew from this year’s Grand Slam final. The Flushing Meadows Tournament in New York begins on August 30. Williams wrote on Instagram: “After careful consideration and advice from my doctors and medical team. I have decided to retire from the US Open to allow my body to recover from a tendon tearfully.
“New York is one FROM the most exciting cities in the world and one of my favorite places to play. I will miss the fans, but I will be happy from afar.
“Thank you for your continued love and support. See you later.”
Williams suffered a hip injury as she left the first half of the season at Wimbledon in June. When the seven-time champion had to give up against Belarus’ Alexandra Sasnovich. The US Open gave Williams another chance to break a record 24th Grand Slam title.
In 1999 she won her first major Flushing Meadows trophy, beating Switzerland’s Martina Hingis. Who became the first African-American woman to win a Grand Slam award since Althea Gibson in 1958 – and the first at the Open Age.
After equalizing Chris Evert’s record six titles in New York in 2014, Williams reached the final four years later. Still, he was beaten by Japanese climber Naomi Osaka – a three-time Grand Slam winner – in a controversial tournament finish.
In the men’s category, the Austrian team is out with a wrist injury, 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer is preparing for another knee operation. At the same time, Nadal is fifth in the world out with a left foot injury.