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Top seeds Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber have withdrawn from the WTA Tennis Championships, organisers announced on Saturday. "We regret to announce that Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber have withdrawn due to illness and injury," the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships wrote on their official Twitter account ahead of the draw
"I have come down with the flu and I am not at 100 percent, so I need to take this time to recuperate." Williams last appeared at the tournament in a semi-final two years ago, losing to Alize Cornet. Kerber said: "I am very sad to announce that I have to withdraw from this great tournament in Dubai due to an injury of my right upper thigh.
"I wish all of you a lot of fun and great week of tennis. Looking forward to being on court again as soon as possible." In addition to Williams and Kerber, other absentees include 2012 champion Agnieszka Radwanska, Switzerland's Roland Garros semi-finalist Timea Bacsinszky, Dane Caroline Wozniacki, the winner in 2011, plus China's Peng Shuai and injured Frenchwoman Cornet. Defending champion Simona Halep of Romania is now the top seed in the tournament which starts on Monday with world number five Garbine Muguruza of Spain moving up to second seed.
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