After a stunning defeat in the US Open semi finals, Serena Williams has decided to drop out of the rest of the 2015 tennis season.
Williams withdrew from the China Open and the WTA Finals in Singapore and has said she needs to focus on her health.
“It’s no secret I’ve played injured most of the year — whether it was my elbow, my knee, or, in the finals moments after a certain match in Flushing, my heart,” Williams told the China Open website. Flushing refers to the location of her defeat at the US Open to Roberta Vinci.
“I’m a fierce competitor. And I want to compete as well as I can, for as long as I can. So I am taking a proactive step,” she said of withdrawing from the tournaments.
Williams said she will return to practice and exhibition matches later in the year. She’s currently the No.1 women’s tennis player in the world.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Tessa Berenson at tessa.Rogers@time.com