Williams was still wearing a protective boot on 19 August

World number one Serena Williams will miss this year's US Open after failing to recover from a foot injury.

Williams, 28, has already missed three tournaments since cutting her right foot on broken glass in Munich in July.

"It is with much frustration and deep sadness that I am having to pull out of the US Open. My doctors have advised against my playing," the American said.

Williams said missing the tournament at Flushing Meadows was "one of the most devastating moments of my career".

She suffered the injury shortly after winning her fourth Wimbledon singles title on 3 July.

It was before playing in an exhibition against Kim Clijsters in Belgium on 8 July, an event which drew a world record crowd for a tennis match of 35,681.

Williams underwent surgery in Los Angeles on 15 July but will now miss a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon in 2006.

She has played just six tournaments this year, including the other three Grand Slams.

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Victories in Australia and at Wimbledon took her career record to 13 Grand Slam titles.

Last year, she lost in the semi-finals of the US Open after a furious outburst at a line judge over a foot-fault call in her defeat by eventual champion Clijsters.

Williams added on Twitter: "I'm devastated to not be participating in US Open. Grand slams are my life. My soul.... I will miss it more than u can ever imagine."

A statement from the US Open organisers said: "Serena will be missed, but the tournament is about the competition and the players on the court.

"This year's US Open will be a memorable event, as it has been every year."

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