Serena Williams withdraws from Charleston event

CHARLESTON, South Carolina — Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Family Circle Cup because of the left knee injury that has sidelined her since she won the Australian Open. The green clay tournament begins this weekend and will be played without three of the world's top 30 women's tennis players. Top-ranked Williams, 2009 champion Sabine Lisicki, and three-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova also pulled out Thursday. Williams said in a statement released by the tournament that her knee "has not fully healed" and that she looks forward to "returning to the WTA Tour in Europe." Lisicki is out because of a left ankle injury. Sharapova announced her withdrawl due to her continuing recovery from an elbow injury. The clay-court season picks up in earnest later this month in Europe, leading to the French Open, which begins May 23. — AP