Serena withdraws from Los Angeles Classic

Add as a preferred source on Google

San Diego,Aug 3: Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week's Los Angeles Classic due to a lingering thumb.

The eight-times grand slam winner injured her thumb at Wimbledon in her dramatic fourth-round victory over Daniela Hantuchova before going out to top ranked Justine Henin in the quarter-finals.

Williams has since pulled out of Fed Cup and tournaments in Cincinnati, Stanford, San Diego and now Los Angeles.

Speaking at the San Diego Classic, where his other daughter, Wimbledon champion Venus, is playing, father Richard said Serena was not even practicing.

''She can't hit the ball yet,'' he said yesterday.

The Los Angeles Classic will feature world number two Maria Sharapova, number three Jelena Jankovic and number five Ana Ivanovic.

Reuters>