Serena Williams Cuts Season Short, Taking ‘Time to Heal’

 

Serena Williams said Thursday she is pulling out of the season-ending WTA Finals and the China Open to take time to heal after playing through injuries all year.

Williams, who was two wins from completing a calendar-year Grand Slam at the US Open, said she is “taking a proactive step and withdrawing from tournaments in Beijing and Singapore to properly address my health and take the time to heal.”

“It’s no secret I’ve played injured most of the year — whether it was my elbow, my knee, or, in the final moments after a certain match in Flushing, my heart,” Williams was quoted on the China Open website.

“This is a very difficult decision, but one ultimately made because of the love of the game.”