Serena blames exhaustion for Fed Cup pullout
By Martyn Herman
DOHA, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Serena Williams explained her decision to pull out of next week’s Fed Cup final on Sunday, saying she was physically and mentally exhausted.
The 28-year-old, who has not played for the United States in the team competition since 2007, withdrew on Saturday, just days after being named in the squad to face Italy.
“I definitely really wanted to go, but I don’t think I would do well physically,” Williams, who beat sister Venus to win the WTA Championships on Sunday, told reporters.
Williams, who will end the year as world number one after winning five matches in six days in exhausting heat and humidity in Doha, finished the event with her left thigh heavily strapped.
“It’s very difficult to play such a mental, mental week and then come back and play again right now i’m just struggling in every aspect of my body.”
Venus, with whom Serena won the Olympic gold medal last year, is not in the team either it is a major blow to American hopes of winning the competition for the first time since 2000.
“It’s a very difficult decision that I actually couldn’t make myself,” she said.
“I had to get input from my mum and my dad. People that are close to me had to just basically tell me what I needed to do as opposed to me making the decision.”
The American team for the Fed Cup clash consists of Melanie Oudin, Alexa Glatch, Serena’s replacement Vania King and doubles specialist Liezel Huber.
(Editing by Ed Osmond, to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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I am a demon and my name is WOE. I have existed since the beginning of time. Like the rest of my brotheren, it is my objective to seek out people who may try to bring light into dark places and run them away. It is in darkness that I can hide and perform my deeds undetected and convince people that I do not exist. I cannot stand you people with your flickering candles murmering about good this and good that...BE GONE with your weak pleading and crying. I have defeated much greater than you whom I consider to be a minor irritation. The people here don't need or want you here. Don't you see how they ignore you? You are more blind than they. I will continue just as I please until you realize to yourself WOE IS ME. I now have people here who are on automatic and all I have to do is make sure people like you don't come in here stirring things up. You are a nobody and your faith is very weak. Your God will not save you because I have brothers working on you right now. SAVE YOURSELF while you still can...at least for a while. I have a brother named DESPAIR that I will have to come into your life and another brother named MISERY who, when teamed together will make your life a living hell. SAVE YOURSELF while there is still time.
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Too many players are exhausted and injured at the end of a still very busy year to play in it.
It was much better when it was played in one week with the top 32 nations and each round a knockout best of 3 ties affair - that system was tough as well ( a possible ten matches in 7 days if you played all singles & doubles but players could rest from the doubles for a team early on in the rounds if they won the 2 singles making the doubles tie irrelevant )
It was so much fun seeing everybody together in one place at the same time in a team competition for 7 days and there were no other tournaments conflicting with it as they were all arranged around it.
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