Serena Williams bows out of Qatar tennis tournament due to illness
February 18, 2015 byLesley Walker


Star American tennis player Serena Williams will not play in this year’s
Qatar Total Open tournament, which begins with qualifying matches on
Saturday, organizers have confirmed to Doha News.

The player was forced to withdraw from the Dubai Tennis Championships earlier
this week due to ongoing effects from an upper respiratory illness she
developed last month, and is currently seeking treatment.

Last year, Williams pulled out of the Qatar tournament just days before it
was due to start, citing a back injury sustained during the Australian Open.
Victoria Azarenka will return to defend her title.

However, Victoria Azarenka, who won the Qatar championships in 2012 and 2013
but was also forced to withdraw from last year’s event due to a foot injury,
is still expected to play this year.

After 12 months of numerous injuries, Azarenka has a singles wildcard entry
to compete, with a ranking of 41 – some way behind her world No. 1 title in
January 2012.