Serena Pulls Out Of Wimbledon
Serena Williams withdrew from Wimbledon today because of flu and high fever.
The withdrawal leaves the tournament without one of its marquee players and ends the possibility of an expected showdown with sister Venus in the fourth round.
"She's got a terrible case of the flu," Serena's father, Richard Williams, said in a statement faxed to the WTA Tour. "I took her to the doctor this morning and he told her it was best to rest and take it easy."
Serena Williams was to have been seeded 10th when the two-week tournament opens Monday. She will be replaced by Russia's Anna Kournikova, the highest-ranked player not to receive a position in the top 16 when seedings were released earlier this week.
Kournikova will take Williams' place in the draw but will designated the 17th-seeded player.
Richard Williams said his daughter wanted to play despite her illness.
"She's been sick for the last two or three days, but last night she had a bad fever and the doctor believes it will go on for at least a week," he said. "Venus is a little sluggish because they hang out a lot together, but we're hoping she'll be all right."
The Williams sisters were seeded No. 4 in doubles and have also pulled out with Venus deciding not to find a replacement.
"It's the last thing we needed, but we'll deal with it," Wimbledon referee Alan Mills said. "We've done it before."
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