By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, April 29, 2016
Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Mutua Madrid Open citing the flu. Agnieszka Radwanska replaces the world No. 1 as top seed.
Photo credit: Christopher Levy
The start of Serena Williams' clay-court campaign will have to wait.
The reigning Roland Garros champion withdrew from the Mutua Madrid Open today citing the flu.
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"Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from Madrid because I've been battling the flu and I'm not at 100%. I look forward to returning soon," Williams said in a statement posted on WTATennis.com.
Agnieszka Radwanska replaces the world No. 1 as the top seed in Madrid.
Williams now plans to launch her clay-court season in Rome, where she raised the title trophy in 2002, 2013 and 2014. A year ago, Williams won her Rome opener before conceding a walkover to Christina McHale in the round of 16.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion has not played a match since losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Miami Open round of 16 last month.
Since she defeated Simona Halep in the Cincinnati final to capture her 69th career title last August, Williams has played just four tournaments, reaching finals at the Australian Open and Indian Wells.
Tbt
A photo posted by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on
Williams has posted a 13-3 record this season, losing to Angelique Kerber in the Melbourne final and to Victoria Azarenka in the Indian Wells title match.