August 1, 2004

Montreal, Canada - Serena Williams confirms her withdrawal from this week’s Montreal tournament

due to continued left knee inflammation.

Serena Williams officially announced today her withdrawal from the Rogers Cup in Montreal, Canada

due to the left knee injury she sustained at last week’s Acura Classic in San Diego, Calif.

”I am so disappointed that I will not be able to play the Rogers Cup as I have really been enjoying the

summer hardcourt tennis season,” Williams said. “I like the facility in Montreal, the tournament and its fans so I’m even more disappointed that I won’t get to experience all of this year.”

”But, following my MRI on Saturday in LA and on the advice of my doctors and physical therapists, I have made the difficult decision to give my knee more time to fully recover. I don’t want to risk further aggravating this injury so I am going to rest my knee and undergo standard therapy for it this week

in the hopes that I will be ready for the rest of my scheduled play including the Olympics and the US Open.”