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SERENA WITHDRAWS FROM ANOTHER TOURNAMENT: Williams sister forced to retire from Sony Ericsson due injury.

(November 9, 2007)

*Serena Williams' bad left knee acted up again Wednesday at the Sony Ericsson Championships and forced her to withdraw from the tournament on Thursday.

The fifth-ranked tennis star had lost the first set against Anna Chakvetadze 6-4 when pain flared up in the same knee that underwent surgery in 2003 and also forced her to miss 10 tournaments last year.

"I felt it maybe a little bit yesterday, but it wasn't too intense," Williams said Wednesday. "I had a really short practice yesterday, and the day before I had a short practice. It's really unfortunate."

Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli replaced Williams and was to play defending champion Justine Henin later Thursday. Bartoli assumed Williams' one loss for the remainder of the round-robin tournament.

Williams, who had reached the Sony Ericsson Championships final in her three previous appearances, said defending her Australian Open title in January will be her focus to return.

Tallying Serena's woes following her eighth career Grand Slam at the Australian Open, the athlete has withdrawn from nine tournaments due to illness, a groin injury, a thumb sprain and an adductor strain.

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Serena Williams