Tennis: Mystery injury helps rivals

Serena Williams' mysteriously injured foot could give two of her rivals - Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic - a leg up.

Williams' continued refusal to explain her injury, apparently sustained in a German restaurant when she stood on a glass, has inevitably led to conjecture she may be only too happy to miss the US Open at Flushing Meadow.

That was the scene of her 'meltdown' at a lineswoman, which resulted in a hefty fine and a bit of damage to the Williams brand and aura.

Sharapova and Ivanovic could be among those, including Kim Clijsters, who could benefit from her absence.

On a recent conference call, Venus Williams was asked about the injury Serena reportedly sustained while celebrating her 13th Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon. She offered no helpful information.

What happened in the restaurant has been the source of questions and gossip. It was initially reported that Serena stepped on broken glass and badly cut her foot.

Yet she subsequently played an exhibition - against Clijsters - in Belgium and was photographed walking in high heels at a red-carpet event when she returned to the United States.

Late last month, a Williams spokeswoman said Williams had not stepped on glass, that she suffered a "deep laceration" on the top of her foot and underwent surgery in Los Angeles. Asked what the injury was, she replied: "I am not going to get into that," according to the New York Times.

No one is sure why the mystery - it seems odd that a wound causing the best player in the world to withdraw from an event for which countless tickets have been sold - would not be explained.

According to the New York Times, the Williams sisters "stubbornly cling to the belief that they have no obligation to the news media but when it comes to their relationship with the ticket-buying public, being more forthcoming matters".

Larry Scott wrestled with the issue during his six-year run as chief executive of the Women's Tennis Association.

"It was continuously surrounding them," he said. "But you're always in the gray area and you never want to accuse an athlete of faking an injury. In the end, you're really relying on the athlete."

In withdrawing, Williams said in a statement: "Due to the surgery I had on my foot earlier this month, my doctors have advised against my playing so that my foot can heal."

She may also help heal the career of Sharapova, who has surged back up the world rankings after a shoulder injury that almost ended it. She feels she is hitting her stride and has a chance to capture her second US Open title in four years.

After sustaining a shoulder injury in 2008 that required surgery, the three-time grand slam winner spent several months on the sidelines and dropped as low as 126th in the rankings.

But Sharapova is now ranked 16th in the world and said reaching the finals at the Stanford Classic and Cincinnati Open has convinced her she can end her drought.

"I have great memories of New York as well as tough ones. Having to miss it two years ago because of my shoulder and then coming back last year with pressure - that wasn't easy." Sharapova's last grand slam success came at the Australian Open in 2008.

Until late July, Sharapova had not beaten a player this season ranked in the top 25, but in the past month has toppled world No6 Elena Dementieva and two-time grand slam victor Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Ivanovic, meanwhile, has gone back to basics in her mission to rediscover the form that made her world No1 and French Open champion in 2008. The Serbian is climbing back up the rankings after a collapse in form that followed her maiden grand slam success and has credited her renewed belief to old friend and fitness coach Marija Lojanica.

The 22-year-old began working with Lojanica following her first round exit at Wimbledon, which saw her drop to 64 in the rankings. She says she has never felt in better shape as she prepares for the US Open.

"With Marija, we have fun together when we're training, and I think it's clear to see that my fitness has really improved in the short time I've been working with her," said Ivanovic, who moved up to world No 39 after reaching the semifinals at the Cincinnati Masters this month before she was forced to retire with injury.

"My improved fitness means that I can stay in rallies longer and I'm in a better position to strike the ball," Ivanovic added. "Before I was maybe pulling the trigger too early, but now I am fitter I can be more patient and wait for the right ball."