By IANS
New Haven (US) : Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week’s event in New Haven, eight days after entering.
The pullout blamed on a sore thumb will leave the American with no match preparation were she to play the US Open starting a week from Monday.
Williams last played July 4 in a Wimbledon quarterfinal loss to Justine Henin.
“Today I tried to have a full practice, hoping that my thumb would feel better,” a Williams statement read.
“But unfortunately it is still not 100 percent and I am not able to play at the level that I had hoped. I’m frustrated and extremely disappointed that I won’t be able to play,” the statement added.
The Australian Open champion has not played since Wimbledon but had been hoping to use the event as a warm-up for the US Open, which begins on Aug 27.