Williams sisters withdraw from US Open

Aug 7, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Serena Williams (USA) and Venus Williams (USA) wave to the crowd after their game against Lucie Safarova (CZE, not pictured) and Barbora Strycova (CZE) during the women's doubles in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Tennis Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

Six-time US Open singles champion, Serena Williams, has been forced to pull out of this year’s grand slam at Flushing Meadows due to a torn hamstring. She revealed the injury hadn’t healed in time for the Open.

On Instagram, Williams explained the reasoning for her absence.

“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,” Williams said.

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A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)

It would have been the return of Williams to the courts after injuring her right leg at Wimbledon in June. The 39-year-old’s quest to equal Margaret Court’s 24 grand slams becomes even harder, with the American sitting one back on 23.

Williams sister Venus also pulled out with a leg injury.

After the announcement from Venus, it will be the first time both Williams sisters were missing from the tournament since 2003.

Venus Williams withdraws from the US Open because of a leg injury

This will be the first Grand Slam event in the main singles draw without Venus, Serena Williams, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal since 1997 pic.twitter.com/hLbPZtEKm4

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 25, 2021

The duo joins Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer who also withdrew with injuries. Nadal, Federer, and Novak Djokovic share the men’s Grand Slam record of 20.

It now opens up the opportunity for Djokovic to break the long-standing record.

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