Serena Williams Withdraws From Season-Ending WTA Finals

By ESPN

For the second straight year, Serena Williams has withdrawn from the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore, citing the right shoulder injury that plagued her during the Rio Olympics and US Open.

"I'm really bummed I won't be able to compete this year in Singapore. It has been a tough year for me, dealing with so much shoulder injuries," Williams said in a video announcement posted to the WTA's Twitter account.

"My doctors insist that I stay at home so I can start to heal. I'm doing treatments every single day so I can play next year and have the chance to make it back to Singapore. I only have wonderful memories of playing in Singapore, and I will really miss my fans. I want to wish everyone a great time, and I hope it will be an amazing tournament -- it always is."

Williams, 35, won her Open era-record-tying 22nd Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon, and she reached the finals of the Australian Open and French Open before falling to Karolina Pliskova in the US Open semifinals. That early September defeat resulted in her ceding the No. 1 ranking to Angelique Kerber after a 3½-year stay at the top, and Williams hasn't played since.

She played in only eight tournaments in 2016, winning two of them, including Wimbledon.