Serena Williams to Use Special Injury Ranking to Play in U.S. Open

The former No.1 ranked tennis player has battled serious injury and illness the last year.

Posted: 07/21/2011 08:39 AM EDT
Filed Under Serena Williams

Serena Williams

Serena Williams isn’t ranked among the top 105 players to be eligible for the U.S. Open, but she will still be able to play in the tournament that starts Aug. 29 in New York.

 

Williams will be able to take advantage of her special injury-protected No.1 ranking to break into the field, according to the Associated Press. Williams, who missed nearly a year of tennis action due to injury and serious illness, is currently ranked 172nd.

 

"I have nothing to lose," Williams said Wednesday at a news conference in New York City. "I think that's when people are the most dangerous."

 

The special-injury protection allows her to the use the special ranking to enter up to eight tournaments, including one Grand Slam.

 

Contact Terrance Harris at terrancefharris@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @Terranceharris

 

(Photo: AP Photo/Daniel P. Derella)

Comments

How You Can Help the Victims in Oklahoma

The Red Cross, Salvation Army and more ways to give. 05/21/2013

Survive Allergy Season With These Natural Remedies

Get relief without a prescription. 05/22/2013

Export Your Summer Jobs Search

What to know about taking a summer job overseas. 05/21/2013

Out and About: Usher and Sugar Ray Fight Juvenile Diabetes

Plus pics of Mary J. Blige, Drake, Kim K. and more. 05/23/2013

The Rundown: French Montana, Excuse My French

A track-by-track review of the Bronx rapper's debut LP. 05/20/2013

Bump Watch: Celebrity Pregnancy Denials

Bey, Brandy and other stars plagued by baby rumors. 05/21/2013