Injury forces Venus Williams to withdraw from U.S. Open

NEW YORK -- When Venus Williams is healthy, she's still one of the top players in women's tennis.

Like her sister, though, Williams has had plenty of problems with injuries, and the bum left wrist that's sidelined her since Wimbledon is forcing her to skip the U.S. Open.

Williams withdrew Friday from the year's last Grand Slam tournament, an event she's won twice.

"I have many great memories from competing at the U.S. Open, and I regret that I will not be able to participate in 2006," Williams said in a statement released by her agent. "I will miss the excitement of competing in front of the New York fans at one of the premier sporting events in the world. I look forward to returning in 2007."

Her agent, Carlos Fleming, said Williams plans to participate in the U.S. Open's opening night ceremony Monday, when the complex used for the tournament will be renamed to honor Billie Jean King.

The next tournament on Williams' schedule is an indoor event in Luxembourg that starts Sept. 25, and Fleming said she has every intention of playing.

"It's kind of in Mother Nature's hands right now," Fleming said in a telephone interview, "and once she's ready to go, she'll be back out there."

Williams, 26, who was seeded 30th for the U.S. Open, won the hard-court major in 2000 and 2001, part of her collection of five Grand Slam titles. She also reached U.S. Open finals in 1997 and 2002, losing to her younger sister Serena in the latter.