BBC SPORT | Tennis | Injured Serena out of New Haven

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Last Updated: Thursday, 9 August 2007, 18:01 GMT 19:01 UK

Injured Serena out of New Haven

Williams still plans to return in time for the US Open

Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week's Pilot Pen tournament in New Haven with a thumb injury.

The American has not played since losing to Justine Henin in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

But Williams still hopes to be fit for the start of the US Open, which gets under way on 27 August.

"I am frustrated and extremely disappointed that I won't be able to play at the Pilot Pen," said the world number eight.

"I tried to have a full practice, hoping that my thumb would feel better, but unfortunately, it is still not 100%.

"I am not able to play at the level that I had hoped."

Williams, 25, also struggled with injuries in 2006 but came back in January to win the Australian Open as an unseeded player.

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