Venus Williams is the biggest big name to withdraw from the U.S. Open. Peter Van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

Venus Williams out of U.S. Open with lingering leg injury

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Aug 25, 2021 6:14 PM ET

The upcoming U.S. Open has lost yet another big name.

Less than 12 hours after Serena Williams withdrew from the year's final Grand Slam, Venus Williams joined her sister and men's superstars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal by pulling out of the major tournament held in New York City because of a lingering leg injury:

Not the best news everyone. I am joining @serenawilliams @RafaelNadal and @rogerfederer on the injured list. It’s still going to be a great US Open & many thanks to the @usta for the wild card. I was so looking forward to it, but it was not meant to be this year. I will be back! pic.twitter.com/s0PRgdSSx2
— Venus Williams (@Venuseswilliams) August 25, 2021

"I tried my best here in Chicago [at the WTA 250 Chicago Women's Open], but I just was unable to figure out the equation." Venus Williams explained, per the WTA website. "And there's been so many times where I've been able to figure it out, even not in the best of my health, but this time, I just couldn't make any miracles work."

The 41-year-old continued that the U.S. Open is her "favorite" of the Grand Slam competitions.

Williams won the 2000 U.S. Open and successfully defended her title the following year but hasn't hoisted that trophy since. She has seven major titles on her career resume and had received a wild-card berth into this year's U.S. Open.

The tournament's main draw begins this Monday and runs through Sept. 12.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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