Skip to main content

Serena Williams pulls out of Swedish Open

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish Open organizers say defending champion Serena Williams will not appear at the tournament next week because she doesn’t feel on top form.

Tournament spokesman Marcus Duner said Friday that the top-seeded American had decided to use one of her two allowed annual withdrawals, with Williams saying in a statement that she was “still not at 100 percent.”

At Wimbledon, Williams couldn’t get the ball over the net in a doubles match with her sister Venus, stopping after three games because of what was called a viral illness.

Williams told organizers she was sad to miss Bastad.

“It was my favorite spot to play last year and I am deeply saddened I cannot return,” she said.

Her withdrawal moves South African Chanelle Scheepers into the main draw.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Hail to the chief: Take our presidential trivia quiz

EDITOR'S NOTE: WTOP first brought you this quiz in 2019. Presidents Day is coming. How well do you know the less-important facts about the nation's leaders? Take WTOP's quiz — with any luck, it won't take you all Presidents Day to finish it.
Read Next Story