Serena Williams has withdrawn from the upcoming Italian Open after sustaining an injury to her achilles tendon, the organisers said on Saturday. The injury had also bothered her during her US Open semi-final defeat to Victoria Azarenka.

"Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, which gets underway behind closed doors at the Foro Italico on Monday, due to an Achilles injury," said the Italian Open.