NEW YORK, Aug 22: Former champion Venus Williams has withdrawn from the US Open with a lingering stomach muscle injury, according to a statement from her representatives on Friday.

She joins her younger sister Serena, who beat her in last year’s final at Flushing Meadows, in missing the year’s last Grand Slam tournament that begins on Monday. Serena withdrew after undergoing knee surgery.

“I kept thinking I would be able to compete,” said the world number five in the statement. “Unfortunately, it just wasn’t meant to be.

Venus sustained the injury at a tournament in Poland in April and also withdrew from the French Open in June.

She played at Wimbledon, though had to receive treatment on the injury during the final against Serena, which she lost in three sets.—Reuters