Serena Williams withdraws from final two tournaments of the season

Serena Williams confirmed Thursday that she is withdrawing from the WTA Finals and the China Open, her final two tournaments of the season, ESPN reports. "It's no secret I've played injured most of the year — whether it was my elbow, my knee, or, in the final moments after a certain match in Flushing, my heart," Williams said in her announcement on the China Open's website. "It's a very difficult decision, but one ultimately made because of the love of the game."

Williams' withdrawal comes on the heels of a heartbreaking loss to Roberta Vinci in the U.S. Open semifinals, which crushed her chances of becoming the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to win all four major tournaments.

"I plan to return to practicing and participating in exhibition matches later this year," Williams said. "And when I do, l will focus and focus and focus so I can continue my journey in this beautiful game."

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