Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome as she “continues to prepare to be 100% ready to compete”.
The announcement follows her decision to skip this week’s Madrid Open and leaves her without any competitive action on clay this year.
Williams has played just four singles matches since January 2017, having given birth to her first child in September.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion has been training at the academy of coach Patrick Mouratoglou in France and is still scheduled to return at the French Open later this month.
Serena Williams in 2018 (singles):
RANKING: 454
LAST MATCH: Lost 6-3 6-2 to Naomi Osaka, Miami Open, March 21st
WIN/LOSS: 2/2
TIME ON COURT: 6 hours and 10 minutes
ACES: 14
DOUBLE FAULTS: 21
1st SERVE PERCENTAGE: 55%
BREAK POINTS WON: 38%
We are so sad to announce that @serenawilliams, a 4-time Champion in Rome, has withdrawn from #ibi18. ???? Obviously we can't wait to see her again on Foro Italico's red clay, perhaps in 2019? ???? pic.twitter.com/CnM8tTadhY
— Internazionali Bnl (@InteBNLdItalia) May 9, 2018
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