Injured Serena withdraws from Stanford

Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week's Stanford Classic due to a thumb injury, organisers said on Thursday.

Williams, the winner of eight grand slam titles, injured her thumb during her run to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and has since pulled out of the Fed Cup and Cincinnati Open.

French Open runner-up Ana Ivanovic of Serbia also withdrew with a knee injury.

The

field will feature eighth ranked Anna Chakvetadze of Russia, Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli of France, Switzerland's Patty Schnyder and Daniela Hantuchova.

The following week's tier I tournament in San Diego has also been struck by pullouts. World number one Justine Henin announced on her Web site on Wednesday that she cannot play due to a wrist injury, while 10th-ranked Nicole Vaidisova withdrew with a viral infection.

Source: REUTERS
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