CHARLESTON, S.C., April 12 (UPI) -- Serena Williams has withdrawn from this week's Family Circle Cup tennis tournament at Charleston, S.C., citing a left leg injury.
She suffered the injury during a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Victoria Azarenka in the April 4 final of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
"I am unable to compete this year at the Family Circle Cup as I need to give my leg injury time to heal," the tournament's reigning champion said in a statement. "I will still be coming to Charleston this week to support the tournament, but hope to be back on its clay courts next year."
"We're disappointed to lose our defending champion to injury, but we still have an impressive player field," tournament manager Eleanor Adams said.
Last Wednesday when Williams attempted to play at the inaugural Andalucia Tennis Experience in Marbella, Spain, she lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to unheralded Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic in the first round.
Azarenka also will miss the Family Circle Cup because of an injured right shoulder.
