Mason, Ohio – July 10, 2007 – A hand injury sustained at Wimbledon has forced Serena Williams to withdraw from next week’s Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open in Cincinnati.

“When we saw Serena with a splint on her hand while watching her sister play in the Wimbledon final, we knew there was a chance she wouldn’t be able to play here,” said tournament director Bruce Flory. “She contacted us today and expressed her regret at not being able to play. She said she really enjoyed herself here last year, appreciated the great crowd support she received, and hopes to play here again next year.”

Williams was a semifinalist at the 2006 W&SFG Women’s Open. Her first-round match against Ana Myskina was watched by nearly 6,000 fans, the biggest crowd ever to see a women’s professional tennis match in Cincinnati history.

Despite the loss of Williams, Flory said the field for the tournament is strong and should produce some great match-ups. “We still have some outstanding players in the field, including our 2005 champ Patty Schnyder, rising star Anna Chakvetadze, India’s Sania Mirza, Russia’s Maria Kirilenko and 2005 finalist Akiko Morigami, who recently was within two points of defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon. It’s still going to be a great week of women’s tennis.”

The main draw of the 2007 Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open will be held July 16-22 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

The qualifying event for the tournament will be held on July 14 & 15 (with some qualifying matches the morning of Monday, July 16). The ceremony to place the players into the main draw will be open to anyone with a ticket to the qualifying matches on July 14. It will be held at noon in the Foodcourt, and adult tickets to the qualifying are only $5, free for kids 14-and-under.

For tickets or information visit www.cincytennis.com, or call 513-651-0303. Tickets also are available via TicketMaster at 513-562-4949 or www.ticketmaster.com.