By Alberto Amalfi
© Natasha Peterson/Corleve

(October 11, 2010) Serena Williams has put her foot down and is "likely" done for the season. The continuing saga of Williams' attempted comeback reached an apparent end point as Williams announced on her official web site she aggravated her surgically-repaired right foot after practicing in Florida on Saturday and will miss the rest of the season.

"Yesterday morning I felt discomfort in my foot and tests by my doctor revealed that I had unfortunately re-strained it, as a result of over training," Williams announced on her official web site. "I am likely out for the year now. I was really looking forward to beginning my comeback in Linz, followed by the year-end championships in Doha. I feel completely heartbroken, and devastated, but knowing I will never be given more than I can handle I plan on coming back stronger and better. However, in order not to make this worse, I have to chill on my physical workouts but I will immediately begin rehabbing as soon as I get the Doc's OK. Keep me in your prayers (I need them)."

The announcement comes a day after Williams pulled out of this week's Generali Ladies Linz where she had been scheduled to launch her comeback.

The 13-time Grand Slam champion has not played a match since she beat Vera Zvonareva in the Wimbledon final in July. Williams, who lost her World No. 1 ranking to Caroline Wozniacki today, had committed to the United States' Fed Cup final against defending champion Italy November 6-7th.

Today's announcement means Serena will likely join sister Venus, who announced she is finished for the season due to the left knee injury that kept her out of the US Open Series, in missing the Fed Cup final. A year ago, Serena committed to playing the Fed Cup final in Itlay, but pulled out days before it was set to start. Francesca Schiavone and Flavia Pennetta led Italy to a 4-0 victory over the USA on the red clay of Reggio Calabria. Though the USA owns a 9-1 Fed Cup record against Italy, French Open champion Schiavone and the 22nd-ranked Pennetta are set to represent the defending champion in next month's final, making Italy a strong favorite against an American squad that will be devoid of a top 50 player if Serena does not play.

World No. 59 Bethanie Mattek-Sands and 69th-ranked Melanie Oudin will be the highest-ranked singles players on the American team if Serena skips the final.

"I have been training for many weeks to get back to playing tennis as quickly possible since my foot surgery in mid-July,"  Serena said in her statement. "Yesterday I learned that I had tried too hard, and did too much too soon. After practicing yesterday morning I felt discomfort in my foot and tests by my doctor revealed that I had unfortunately re-strained it."