Former tennis world number one player, Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week’s Italian Open on Wednesday. The news has been declared by the organisers themselves, casting doubts over her participation in the French Open beginning later in this month.

The popular tennis player has triumphed in Italy on four previous occasions. She made her comeback in action from March after the birth of her daughter last September. But the 36-year-old is yet to regain full fitness.

Serena Williams made her comeback at Indian Wells in March. The player is the 23-times grand slam winner. She got defeated by Japan’s Naomi Osaka at the Miami Open in Indian Wells.

While making official announcement organisers took Twitter and said, “We are so sad to announce that Serena Williams, a four-time Champion in Rome, has withdrawn... Obviously, we can’t wait to see her again on Foro Italico’s red clay, perhaps in 2019?,”

According to the schedules, the Italian Open is held from May 14 to 20, a week before the French Open main draw kicks off on May 27.

Serena Jameka Ohanian is an American professional tennis player. The Women's Tennis Association ranked her world No. 1 in singles on eight separate occasions between 2002 and 2017. She reached the No. 1 ranking for the first time on July 8, 2002.