Serena pulls out of Italian Open with a back injury

With Serena pulling out of the Italian Open with a back injury, looks like the injuries are really starting to take their toll on the old guard. Kim Clijster's has not played since the Australian Open and won't be returning now until the grass court season. Venus was also out for a very long time, before returning only recently. Hence, the fact that no one within the new generation has broken through of any comparable standard to Serena, Venus, Kim, and the now retired Justine, must be of concern to the WTA. Neither Wozniacki or Kvitova have been able to mount a sustained challenge. Vika did well during the early part of this year, but she too has now hit problems. So where are the new players going to come from? Can't see Serena hanging about for too much longer as she is just so injury prone. Kim will be retiring after the Olympics or this years US Open, and it won't be too long before Venus retires as well.

The WTA needs some genuine new talent fast. I am just hoping Petra finds some consistency and finds a way to get back to her Wimbledon/late 2011 form on a sustained basis.

I mean it's a part of tennis and the changing of the guard. Older players lose their footing and new ones rise up. Most of us grew up in the 90s and early 00s for the peak of the WTA so we can't expect it to return to that level immediately.

She's perfectly fine :lol:

I mean it's a part of tennis and the changing of the guard. Older players lose their footing and new ones rise up. Most of us grew up in the 90s and early 00s for the peak of the WTA so we can't expect it to return to that level immediately. i have the feeling it will never be as exciting as it used to be

New talent is always in the pipeline.

I'm the kind that wants to appreciate those playing now. :shrug:

Serena is FINE. It's precautionary. And I'm sure she wants to avoid stressing since so many important majors/tournaments are coming up. She has played a lot of matches within these 2 weeks or so. Just needs some rest.

Dear God....The previous thread has been deleted. So will this one.