‘ SERENA ABSENCE UNFORTUNATE’

Wuhan, Sept. 27: Serena Williams’ withdrawal from the Wuhan Open was “unfortunate”, the tournament’s director said on Tuesday, after the American star ruled herself out of the injury- hit tournament for the second year in a row.

The 22- time Grand Slam champion pulled out of the Chinese event — and next week’s China Open in Beijing — with a shoulder injury, robbing it of its best known player.

“It’s unfortunate but we understand. It’s the nature of the sport,” Fabrice Chouquet said. “We hope to see her here in 2017.”

Williams has only made it to the hot and humid Wuhan Open once, in 2014, when she retired from her first match against Alize Cornet with illness.

Last year, she was also injured and skipped the entire Asian swing, a busy period which culminates in the season- ending WTA Finals in Singapore.

The Wuhan Open, held just after the year’s final Grand Slam tournament, the US Open, has become bedevilled with injury problems, witnessing a series of retirements.

Six players retired midmatch in the first two days of this year’s tournament, while another five suffered the same fate last year — including Garbine Muguruza in the final.