Tennis: Serena joins sister Venus on sidelines with foot injury

Published on Tuesday 19 October 2010 18:19

SERENA WILLIAMS has called an early end to her season after suffering a recurrence of the foot injury which has sidelined her since July.

The reigning Wimbledon champion has not played on the WTA Tour since her triumph at the All England Club, having announced in mid-July that she cut her right foot on a broken glass in a restaurant.

She was expected back on tour for the Generali Linz event in Austria this week but withdrew after feeling the injury during a final training session in Florida.

Williams, 29, immediately cast doubt over her ability to compete again in 2010 and today confirmed she has had surgery and therefore played her last tennis of the year. In a statement on her personal website, she explained: "It is with deep frustration that I am withdrawing from the WTA Championships at Doha and the Fed Cup final.

"Pushed by my desire to return to competition, I trained too hard, too soon and re-tore the tendon in my foot.

"As a result, I had to have another procedure to repair it. I thank everyone for their continued support during this difficult time and look forward with strength and determination to getting back on the court."

Williams landed her 13th grand slam title at Wimbledon, when she beat Vera Zvonareva in straight sets. Her sister, Venus, called a premature end to her campaign earlier this month because of an ongoing knee problem.