PERTH, Australia (AFP) - US Open winner Serena Williams has withdrawn from next month's Hopman Cup mixed teams event with a hamstring injury, organisers said here Monday.
The world number two injured her hamstring in the year-ending WTA Championships and has not been able to recover in time to prepare for the Perth tournament, although she still intends to play the Australian Open later in January, organisers said.
World No.10 James Blake will now be partnered by Meghann Shaughnessy, who last year played in the Hopman Cup and defeated Sania Mirza of India.
Shaughnessy, winner of six singles and 15 doubles titles on the WTA Tour, has had an injury-plagued year but the United States will remain the top seeds for the January 3-9 event.
Organisers said Russian star Marat Safin has shelved retirement plans and has committed to play in the Hopman Cup. Safin will team up with his sister and world number three Dinara Safina, with Russia the second seeds.
US is the most successful nation in the 20-year history of the Hopman Cup having won the event five times.
Source:
http://eurosport.yahoo.com