[auntie janie]

Venus Williams withdraws from U.S. Open

BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer Friday, August 22, 2003
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(08-22) 10:47 PDT LOS ANGELES (AP) --

Venus Williams withdrew from the U.S. Open on Friday because of a stomach muscle injury, leaving the year's final Grand Slam tournament without both Williams sisters.

The tournament begins Monday in New York, where Williams has been practicing.

Serena withdrew after having left knee surgery Aug. 1 and will be out 6-to-8 weeks.

Neither sister has played a match since Serena beat Venus in the Wimbledon final on July 5, when Venus was hampered by leg and stomach muscle injuries.

 

[griffin]

FSPC! Link?

 

[Brens]

 

[apoet29]

Christ, this really sucks the big one. I hope that she and Serena get well enough to play during the fall.

 

[auntie janie]

I hope people will stop taking potshots at Tennis Week now!

Poor V.

 

[Mateo Mathieu]

OMG!! Kim Clijsters gonna be biggest fluke winner if she wins the Open!!

 

[Paneru]

I hope people will stop taking potshots at Tennis Week now!

Poor V.

Where's the link???

 

[Toontje]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/natio...,0,5899876.story?coll=sns-ap-sports-headlines


Ooooh....no

 

[irma]

this sucks

 

[auntie janie]

FSPC! Link?

Sorry!!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/22/sports1347EDT0352.DTL

I found it through a search on http://news.google.com/

 

[CapFan#1]

What will they do with the draw now?? Will they re do it or just move seeds around???

 

[Mrs. Peel]

 

[irma]

janie is not a person who would joke about this so you can believe her 100%

 

[jenglisbe]

CAPPY3EVER - I think once the draw is done, they move the highest non-seed into Venus' slot. A lucky loser then moves into that players' spot in the draw.

 

[Paneru]

Still confused!!!

One article says it's the groin, the other says it's the abdomin,
and the other says she is playing. Who to believe, they are all "supposedly" reputable.

 

[bandabou]

Man, this is bad....really, really bad! Just now that I´ve gotten Eurosport and there´s no Serena and no Venus?!

 

[venusfan]

OH SHIT.. NOW I HAVE TO GO FOR CAPRIATI,DAVENPORT and MAuresmo..

 

[Nemesis]

Vee

Neither Williams sister. This is a nightmare for the tournament and the fans. And whoever wins will be discredited because she didn't have to beat Venus or Serena.

Get well soon Venus! (And Serena too BTW. I didn't think I have said this already since I was on holiday when she announced she wouldn't participate).

 

[joie]

I was just coming to posts this- I'm so I hope Kim can really win this thing now.

Venus Williams Withdraws From U.S. Open
6 minutes ago

By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES - Venus Williams (news - web sites) withdrew from the U.S. Open (news - web sites) on Friday because of a stomach muscle injury, leaving the year's final Grand Slam tournament without both Williams sisters.



The tournament begins Monday in New York, where Williams has been practicing.


Serena withdrew after having left knee surgery Aug. 1 and will be out 6-to-8 weeks.


Neither sister has played a match since Serena beat Venus in the Wimbledon (news - web sites) final on July 5, when Venus was hampered by leg and stomach muscle injuries.


Since Wimbledon, Venus has spent time rehabilitating and receiving treatment while curtailing her physical activities in the hope that she would be ready to play in the Open.


"I kept thinking I would be able to compete," she said in a statement. "Unfortunately, it just wasn't meant to be. So, with regret, I have to pull out of this tournament and continue my recovery. I'm looking forward to playing again in the fall."


The world's fourth-ranked player, Venus has lost to Serena in the final of five of the past six majors, a streak that began at the 2002 French Open (news - web sites) and extended to Wimbledon last month.


The only time the sisters didn't meet in a major final during that stretch was this year's French Open, when Serena lost to eventual champion Justine Henin-Hardenne in the semifinals.


Venus has a 26-5 match record this year, with one tournament victory.


Venus won the U.S. Open in 2000 and '01, the same years she was Wimbledon champion. She lost to Serena in last year's final.

 

[alfajeffster]

CAPPY3EVER - I think once the draw is done, they move the highest non-seed into Venus' slot. A lucky loser then moves into that players' spot in the draw.

There's a good explanation on ESPN's Tennis Wire about what happens in this situation. Marat Safin just pulled out, and Juan Ignacio Chela takes his place, and if one more person pulls out of the men's draw- Tim Henman won't have to play Andy Roddick in the first round, because Tim is the next highest seed. Monday's lineup should be interesting indeed!