Fed Cup 2009 - Exhausted Serena withdraws

Reuters - Mon, 02 Nov 08:21:00 2009

Serena Williams explained her decision to pull out of next week's Fed Cup final, saying she was physically and mentally exhausted.

Serena Williams after losing to Nadia Petrova at the China Open 2009 - 0

The 28-year-old, who has not played for the United States in the team competition since 2007, withdrew on Saturday, just days after being named in the squad to face Italy.

"I definitely really wanted to go, but I don't think I would do well physically," Williams, who beat sister Venus to win the WTA Championships on Sunday, told reporters.

Williams, who will end the year as world number one after winning five matches in six days in exhausting heat and humidity in Doha, finished the event with her left thigh heavily strapped.

"It's very difficult to play such a mental, mental week and then come back and play again right now I'm just struggling in every aspect of my body."

Venus, with whom Serena won the Olympic gold medal last year, is not in the team either it is a major blow to American hopes of winning the competition for the first time since 2000.

"It's a very difficult decision that I actually couldn't make myself," she said.

"I had to get input from my mum and my dad. People that are close to me had to just basically tell me what I needed to do as opposed to me making the decision."

The American team for the Fed Cup clash consists of Melanie Oudin, Alexa Glatch, Serena's replacement Vania King and doubles specialist Liezel Huber.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. Whew.....least no more 'APE ALERT' before the­ Fed matches!!!

    This bulky animal should spare us all­ the barfing especially after she stripped and scared­ the living daylights outta planet earth....and possibly­ beyond!!

    From Zuberman, on Tue 3 Nov 4:56AM

  2. well said

    From Dee, on Mon 2 Nov 9:18PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    WONDERFUL NEWS ** SW HAS WITHDRAWN

    THAT MEANS WE­ SHALL SEE NO MORE OF THE GROTESQUE OVERWEIGHT FIGURE­ ON TV

    REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR TENNIS LOVERS NO MORE­ INFLATED APPEARANCE IN 2009

    From ivan66ivan, on Mon 2 Nov 6:38PM

  4. You guys can cry as much as you want, Serena is not­ playing. Whether she plays or not she will be­ criticized. I must say she has already done more for­ her country than those of you criticizing her will ever­ do for your countries.

    From kmf, on Mon 2 Nov 2:52PM

  5. Fed Cup=not much money,so not interesting to her...What­ a b i t c h.

    From Jeremy, on Mon 2 Nov 2:44PM

  6. i like how venus and serena played through the pain for­ the multi million dollar prize at the end, maybe the if­ the fed cup prize was as big in terms of money, serena­ would be happy to play through the pain?

    From ajpbolton, on Mon 2 Nov 2:27PM

  7. this woman needs to give her head a shake if she­ thinks­ this year has been good for womens tennis. its­ been the­ worst year i can remember, just look at the­ ausie open­ womens final when there where empty seats­ in the­ stadium to see another boring, one-sided match,­ and­ then again at the french open, another boring­ one-sided­ final, then at wimbledon another predictable­ final. the­ season got interesting when kim clijsters­ came back and­ injected some much needed life and­ interest to the­ game. next year has to be better,­ clijsters back full­ time along with henin.

    From ajpbolton, on Mon 2 Nov 2:25PM

  8. she is tired let her be,she knows her body better than­ you ugly animals.She was chosen by Mary Jo but she is­ clearly injured leave her alone.

    From susan, on Mon 2 Nov 2:21PM

  9. Do those who critizise not see what happened in Doha?­ Most of the players were playing
    in bandages and some­ even dropped out. Don't you think it ridiculous­ that they are expected to play Fed Cup and the same­ goes for the Davis cup? The timing is all wrong.

    From Katy, on Mon 2 Nov 1:08PM

  10. victor victory can be archieved only through getting­ the right minds to do it . But if this mind has been­ insulted then, you loose the services. USTA organised­ the dethrone of their Queen of Court and should suffer­ for it. Serena is no slave to USTA. This is the time of­ reasoning and not the dark days of American Slavery.­ What USTA did last summer has deprived them the glory­ of tennis forever and they will suffer indefinitely.­ Ouidine could be their saviour

    From Augustine A, on Mon 2 Nov 11:20AM

  11. SERENA'S REASONS FOR PULLING OUT OF THE FED CUP­ FINAL MAY BE QUESTIONABLE BUT I THINK SHE SHOULDN'T­ EVEN HAVE BEEN NAMED FOR IT HAS SHE DIDN'T PLAY THE­ FED CUP THIS SEASON.
    IT'S NOT FAIR FOR PLAYERS WHO­ HAD PUT THE USA IN THE FINAL TO LOSE THEIR PLACE IN THE­ SQUAD FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE ANYTHING FOR THEM SO­ FAR.

    From Vítor, on Mon 2 Nov 10:43AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ***********deplorable to withdraw from team claiming ­ --'Too tired"

    to let down rest of team

    If­ money were involved she would not be tired,,, but rush­ to play ..!

    So only $$ money brings her out to play­ === disgusting attitude

    From startoratora, on Mon 2 Nov 10:11AM
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