World No. 1 and defending champion Serena Williams has been forced to withdraw from the 2015 Bank of the West Classic tennis tournament due to an injury to her right elbow.
“I’m disappointed to have to withdraw from the Bank of the West Classic, but I need to get my elbow back to 100 percent,” said Williams. “The tournament is one of my favorites and the fans have always been so generous and supportive of me. I wish all of the players much success and I hope to return next year.”
With three of the top 10 players in the world and eight ranked in the top 20 in attendance, including world No. 5 Caroline Wozniacki — who will be making her Bank of the West Classic debut — the tournament player field remains as one of the best of the summer hardcourt season.
“Serena is having a historic season and we wish her a speedy recovery as she prepares for the US Open,” said Vickie Gunnarsson, Bank of the West Classic Tournament Director. “Unfortunately injuries are part of sports and the health of the players is always the No. 1 priority.”
Wozniacki, who will be the tournament’s No. 1 seed, is still scheduled to play on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. Wednesday’s evening schedule will be determined following the draw announcement this evening at Stanford Shopping Center at 6 p.m.
In addition to Wozniacki, the BOW field includes world No. 7 Agnieszka Radwanska, No. 10 Carla Suarez Navarro, No. 12 Karolina Pliskova, No. 13 Angelique Kerber, No. 16 Andrea Petkovic, No. 18 Madison Keys, No. 20 Elina Svitolina, and No. 23 Sabine Lisicki plus 16-year-old Atherton resident CiCi Bellis, the reigning No. 1-ranked junior in the world.
The Bank of the West Classic, a Premier WTA event, features a 28-player singles draw as well as a 16-team doubles draw. The event is owned and operated by IMG and serves as the opening women’s event of the Emirates Airline US Open Series.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.BankoftheWestClassic.com or call 866-WTA-TIXS (866-982-8497).
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports
By Palo Alto Online Sports
I can’t see how the so called experts can justify saying that Serena is playing players that are weaker than the players that steffi played when they play Serena they play better then they’ve ever played before like a Wimbledon championship.