World number one Serena Williams will not play the next week’s Sony Ericsson Open in Miami because of a knee injury, which is the third bad news regarding the women’s draw, as Maria Sharapova and second-ranked Dinara Safina had already pulled out.

Serena Williams’ withdrawal is a special blow to the tournament because the American is a five-time Miami singles champion, and was a runner-up last year to Victoria Azarenka.

Venus Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova will now headline the women's field at the Sony Ericsson Open. (photo: Upali Wickramasinghe)

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The Laureus World Sports Academy recognized tennis stars Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters to be among the most successful athletes of the past year, naming them winners of the prestigious Laureaus Sports Awards at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

The world No.1 Williams won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award, while the Laureus Comeback of the Year Award went into the hands of Kim Clijsters. Williams has won her third Laureus Award and second in the same category, following her impressive 2009 Grand Slam successes, that is her victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Clijsters owes her award to her amazing run at the 2009 US Open, when she won the title while playing only her third tournament after a two-year absence. (via On the Baseline)

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World No.1 Serena Williams had opened a secondary school in Kenya two years ago, which she said in her autobiography was one of the landmark events in her life, and has followed up her humanitarian work by opening another one in the same country.

This month’s inauguration of the Wee Secondary School in Makueni, Eastern Province, Kenya, is the continuation of the Build African Schools initiative and Hewlett Packard’s efforts.

Williams visited both the schools, about 50 km away from each other, and led tennis clinics during her three-day stay in Kenya. (source: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

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World No.1 Serena Williams will not take part in the BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup on March 1 because of a left leg injury and will be replaced by Ana Ivanovic.

We were having a discussion here on Women’s Tennis Blog as to how they chose players for the one-night exhibition event at the Madison Square Garden in New York and now we can safely say that tennis results are not in the first place. Former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic didn’t win single WTA title in 2009, and not to mention a Grand Slam one. In addition, last year she had her first non-Top 20 season in five years.

The leg injury has forced 12-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams to miss tournaments in Paris and Dubai. (source: ESPN, photo: paddynapper)

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Last week I did a review of Serena Williams' autobiography called "On the Line" and I announced that one lucky answerer to the question about the release date of the autobiography will get the book. Of course, the correct answer was September 1st, 2009. The winner was randomly chosen and I'm happy to announce that it is Argy.

Congratulations to you, Argy, and enjoy reading the book which I will send to you shortly. First, of course, I will contact you to give me your address.

Thank you all for participating. I'm sure there will be more competitions on Women's Tennis Blog and that those of you who were not that lucky this time will test their chances as soon as possible.

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