Serena Williams calls time on 2015 season; will not compete for the rest of the year

Serena has taken the year off a tiring season during which she has won 3 of 4 Grand Slams

World No. 1 Serena Williams has opted out of the year ending China Open and the WTA finals, reported Sky Sports. She has lost only three matches all year, taking title wins at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, missing out on a Calendar Slam in her loss to Roberta Vinci in the US Open semifinals

Williams said she needed time off to get her body back in shape for the next season and needed the rest badly after a grueling year. "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 a press conference prior to her withdrawal from the China Open.

The 34-year old went on to add that she is a fierce competitor and intends to get back in shape to address her health issues and injuries, "I'm a fierce competitor. And I want to compete as well as I can, for as long as I can. So I am taking a proactive step and withdrawing from tournaments in Beijing and Singapore to properly address my health and take the time to heal.”

The World No. 1 has had her fair share of injuries over the course of the year after sustaining an elbow injury just before the French Open, which gave her competitors an edge, but got back to optimal fitness just before the start of the French Open, which she went on to win. She is not the only one with injuries – World No. 2 and 3 Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova have also been affected this year; Sharapova pulled out of the US Open due to a leg injury which she sustained in the run-up to the US Open.

The younger of the Williams sisters said it was an extremely tough decision to opt out of the tour-ending tournaments, but went on to add she made the decision for the sake of tennis.

"This is a very difficult decision, but one ultimately made because of the love of the game. I plan to return to practicing and participating in exhibition matches later this year. And when I do, l will focus and focus and focus so I can continue my journey in this beautiful game," she told reporters.

Her semi-final loss at the US Open was considered the biggest upset of the year, with Vinci eventually going on to lose the final to compatriot Flavia Pennetta.