Serena and Venus Williams knocked out of doubles’ play by Czech duo at US Open
The two-time major doubles champions have been eliminated from the tournament by Czech duo Petra Martic and Roberta Vinci at Flushing Meadows.
A day after she was forced to pull out of her match, Serena Williams will play at Indian Wells on Sunday only to have her withdrawal confirmed by the US Open doctor.
She will take on Maria Sharapova after withdrawing from her planned second-round match with Victoria Azarenka.
However, the 30-year-old Williams will play only after the doctors confirm she is fit enough to compete.
Earlier in the day, the 27-year-old Martic and the 22-year-old Vinci fell out at the US Open after their clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium ended in a tie-breaker.
The former pair made a spirited recovery to take the first set before Martic, 17, eventually broke the Czech to leave Williams and Vinci trailing at 5-2 in the second set.
Vinic and Williams were immediately called off play under the doctor, with the two players to be examined by the medical team at 8am.
Martic and Vinci will have to wait until later in the tournament.
Serena Williams to skip Indian Wells after doctor ‘confirm’ she’s fit to play
The No 1-ranked Serena Williams failed to make weight for her anticipated match against Caroline Wozniacki, meaning she will not play in her first Grand Slam since losing the 2015 US Open to Samantha Stosur.
The 31-year-old had been hopeful of making the tournament in her first appearance since losing to Stosur at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but her agent, Lisa Bartoletti, confirmed that Williams had been diagnosed with an acute viral illness.
Bartoletti said: “It’s not a medical condition, and it’s not due to the heat. She has been experiencing a virus that has lasted a week, so we just have to wait a little while longer and hope that everything gets resolved. She’s dealing with it very well, but we just have to wait and see. So far, everything is good.”
Williams, who will play on Monday at the Miami Open, will still attend the US Open for her
