Serena Williams withdraws from Kremlin Cup

Oct 3, 2008 - 7:17 PM MOSCOW (Ticker) - Top-ranked Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week's Kremlin Cup with an ankle injury.

Friday's announcement comes two days after the nine-time Grand Slam champion was was upset by China's Li Na in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

As a result of that defeat, the 27-year-old American will lose the No. 1 standing to Serbia's Jelena Jankovic when the new rankings are released Monday.

A four-time champions this season, Williams revealed that her left ankle has been bothering her since last month's U.S. Open.

"I need to take a break now to get it back to 100 percent which is why I have to regretfully take this decision and withdraw," said Williams, who lost the Kremlin Cup final to Russia's Elena Dementieva last season. "I have played a lot this year and my body needs to recover.

"It's obviously my goal to try and get the No 1 ranking back and it hurts my chances pulling out of Moscow since I reached the final there last year."

Williams is 43-7 this season and has reached the quarterfinals or better in 10 of 12 events.