FILE - In this June 4, 2015, file photo, Serena Williams, of the United States, returns a shot in her semifinal match of the French Open tennis tournament against Timea Bacsinszky, of Switzerland, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. Williams withdrew from her opening match at the Hopman Cup on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 because of inflammation in her left knee, an early setback in her preparations for an Australian Open title defense. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Hopman Cup because of inflammation in her left knee, a setback in her preparations for next month’s Australian Open.
FILE – In this June 4, 2015, file photo, Serena Williams, of the United States, returns a shot in her semifinal match of the French Open tennis tournament against Timea Bacsinszky, of Switzerland, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. Williams withdrew from her opening match at the Hopman Cup on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 because of inflammation in her left knee, an early setback in her preparations for an Australian Open title defense. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
Williams has been replaced by Vicky Duval in the U.S. team for the last Group A match against the Czech Republic on Thursday. Williams withdrew ahead of her season-opening match against Ukraine on Monday, with Duval filling in for her, and retired in the second set against Australia’s Jarmila Wolfe on Tuesday.
Hopman Cup organizers confirmed Williams’ withdrawal on Wednesday. The U.S. team is 0-2 and cannot reach the final of the international mixed team competition at Perth Arena.
