World No. 1 Serena Williams will not play next week’s Qatar Total Open. Suffering from the flu, Williams announced on Tuesday that she’ll have to skip the event. She was a runner-up in Doha in 2013, losing to Victoria Azarenka in the final.
“I unfortunately have to withdraw from the Qatar Total Open as I have come down with the flu and do not feel 100 percent,” Williams said. “I need to take this time to recover but I do look forward to returning to Doha and seeing my fans soon.”
Maria Sharapova also pulled out of Doha last week with a left forearm injury.