Beijing: World number one Serena Williams said on Friday that she might be forced to skip the WTA season final this month in Singapore if her fitness does not improve over the next fortnight.
The top seed retired for a second-straight week in China, withdrawing from a Beijing quarter-final with Samantha Stour because of a left knee injury.
The 33-year-old is due to fly to Europe for a scan and is making no decisions prior to seeing doctors.
Williams also withdrew last week in Wuhan and was helped from the court because she was ill. Her elder sister Venus pulled out this week in Beijing after feeling poorly.
Williams is clearly unhappy with her current fitness situation and may well be worried about fronting up in Singapore at the WTA Finals from October 27.
“I don’t know yet,” she said. “I haven’t had time to get a scan. I’m going to do all that and see what is the root of the problem.
“If I feel this way for Singapore, I don’t think it’s smart for me to play. Other than that, I’m just going to see how it goes.”
Williams was defending the Beijing title. “It’s really frustrating, especially from here,” she said. “This is a really big tournament for me. I’m defending champ. You always want to do your best to defend your title. I’ve got to at least give it a chance.
“I’ve done well here,” the 2004 winner said. “This is my title. So more than anything, it’s extremely frustrating. I wanted to be here. To come all this way and not to take the title, it’s just a waste.”
The past two weeks in China have been a doctor’s delight with WTA players pulling out with food poisoning, a virus and injuries. Second seed Simona Halep withdrew with a hip injury after a win this week and also flew to Europe for treatment.
