Tennis: Serena pulls out of Madrid Open with flu
World number one Serena Williams has pulled out of the Madrid Open due to flu.
MADRID (AFP) - World number one Serena Williams has pulled out of the Madrid Open, which begins this weekend, with flu, organisers announced on Friday.
"Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from Madrid because I ve been battling the flu and I m not at 100 percent. I look forward to returning soon," said Williams in a statement released by organisers.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion, 34, is a two-time winner in Madrid having triumphed in the Spanish capital in 2012 and 2013.
Last year she reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual winner Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic.
In the absence of Williams, Poland s Agnieszka Radwanska, who had been seeded two, will become the top seed.
Williams, who is the defending French Open champion, is now scheduled to open her clay-court season at the Italian Open in May.
