Serena eyeing WTA Finals return in Singapore

Wuhan (China), Sep 23 (IANS) World No.2 Serena Williams is eyeing a return to action at the WTA Finals in Singapore after a nagging shoulder injury ruled her out of the Wuhan Open and the China Open.

Serena announced on Friday that due to shoulder injury she will not compete in the upcoming Wuhan Open and the following China Open, reports Xinhua.

"I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open or the China Open due to continuing issues with my right shoulder," Serena said in a statement.

"I have been practising and playing but my shoulder is still not fit for tournament play."

"I wish the tournaments great success and I'm sure the fans will enjoy some great tennis. I am focused on getting ready to compete at the WTA Finals in Singapore."

"I'm tired of playing tournaments unhealthy and taking losses that I would never lose," Serena had recently remarked in an interview.

Serena has played eight tournaments this year, the fewest she has played in a season since returning from injury in 2011. She has won two titles out of Rome and Wimbledon and finished as runner-up three times, losing to Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open, to Victoria Azarenka at Indian Wells and to Garbine Muguruza at Roland Garros.

In an interview wtih CNN, coach Patrick Mouratoglu called it "a bad season for her" adding that Serena has suffered from injury a great deal of the time.

"For Serena any other result that is not a title is a bad result. The final at a Grand Slam is a bad result for her. We cannot be satisfied with one Grand Slam [title] and two finals lost," he said.

Serena has competed in nine WTA Finals, carrying home five titles thus far.

--IANS

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