• Western & Southern Open

Serena faces US Open fitness race

ESPN staff
August 17, 2011
Serena Williams faces a battle to make the US Open © Getty Images
Enlarge

Serena Williams' fitness woes are back in the spotlight with the news that she has pulled out of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati due to a right toe injury.

Williams completed back-to-back tournament victories on Sunday by defeating Sam Stosur in the final of the Rogers Cup, and she was on course to face Stosur again in the second round of the Western & Southern.

But after aggravating the injury she has taken the chance to withdraw from the tournament, which casts doubt on whether she will be able to take part in the US Open at the end of this month.

Williams returned to tennis at Eastbourne earlier this year following 12 months of inactivity caused by a foot injury and then a blood clot on the lung, issues that threatened to shorten her storied career.

Meanwhile, 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt has been handed a wild card for the US Open.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices