Serena Williams will miss the 2021 U.S. Open due to injury, the tennis star announced on social media Wednesday.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)
A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)
“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 wrote on Instagram. “New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world and one of my favorite places to play — I’ll miss seeing the fans but will be cheering everyone on from afar. Thank you for your continued support and love. I’ll see you soon.”
The decision is the latest in a string of disappointing results for Williams this summer. The 39-year-old withdrew from her first-round match at Wimbledon in June after injuring her hamstring. She has not played on the tour since then.
Before that, Williams advanced all the way to the quarterfinals of the French Open, where she was upset in straight sets by Elena Rybakina.
Williams has historically done well at the U.S. Open, winning six singles titles including her first Gland Slam in 1999. She last missed the event in 2017 due to the birth of her daughter, Olympia. Since she returned to the tour in March 2018, Williams has not missed a Grand Slam until now.
The U.S. Open is set to begin Aug. 30 in New York.