After withdrawing from her US Open warmup events earlier this summer, American Venus Williams today has
withdrawn from the US Open to be played next week in New York City citing the same wrist injury which she says
was to blame for her Wimbledon loss. With Venus Williams out, the favorites to win the women's singles title include
Maria Sharapova, and Venus' sister
Serena Williams.
"I have many great memories from competing at the U.S. Open, and I regret that I will not be able to participate
in 2006," Williams said in a statement released by her agent. "I will miss the excitement of competing in front of the
New York fans at one of the premier sporting events in the world. I look forward to returning in 2007."
"It's kind of in Mother Nature's hands right now," Fleming said in a telephone interview, "and once she's ready
to go, she'll be back out there."
Today's announcement is not a major surprise considering Williams' recent withdrawals and early losses due
to injuries. In 1997 Venus Williams burst on the scene of the WTA Tour and with her mix of power and athleticism
reached the final of the US Open before losing to Martina Hingis. Williams won Wimbledon and the US Open in
2000 and 2001 before struggling to find a way to beat her sister Serena Williams, to whom Venus lost in four
consecutive grand slams finals.
After being labeled the less talented of the two Williams sisters, Venus Williams last year rebounded to take
her third Wimbledon singles title defeating fellow American Lindsay Davenport in a classic final.
More recently Venus Williams suffered a round one defeat at this year's Australian Open and a third round
loss at Wimbledon. Williams blamed injury for both losses, which triggered questions to resurface regarding if
Venus Williams can ever dominate or be a major factor at grand slams again.
Venus Williams is next scheduled to play an
indoor WTA Tour event in Luxembourg that starts September 25th.
Desperately Seeking Venus
