Beijing, China (Sports Network) - Serena Williams and Venus Williams have
pulled out of the China Open, which commences Saturday in Beijing.
The China Open is considered a mandatory event on the WTA circuit.
Serena is battling the flu, while her fellow former world No. 1 sister Venus
is out with a back injury.
The high-flying Serena was the China Open champion in 2004.
The currently fourth-ranked Serena just enjoyed one of the best summers in the
history of women's tennis, as she captured Wimbledon, an Olympic gold medal
and the U.S. Open.
The 41st-ranked Venus has played sparingly since being diagnosed last year
with Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and joint
pain.
The Sports Network