Williams sisters out of doubles at French Open

PARIS (AFP) –

Serena Williams speaks with sister Venus Williams during a match at the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 22, 2013. the pair have pulled out of the women’s doubles at the French Open as Venus is suffering from a lower back injury, organisers announce.

Serena and Venus Williams have pulled out of the women’s doubles at the French Open as Venus is suffering from a lower back injury, organisers announced on Thursday.

The Americans had planned to team up at Roland Garros for the first time in three years, receiving a wild card from the tournament and a 12th seeding.

It would have been just their fourth appearance together in the year’s second Grand Slam event having won the title in 1999, when they beat Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova in the final, and in 2010.

Venus, who has been struggling for most of the year with back pain, was a first round loser to Poland’s Urszula Radwanska at Roland Garros, while Serena is through to the third round after defeating Caroline Garcia of France.

First round doubles opponents, Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia and Anastasia Rodionova of Australia advance directly to the second round