Serena Williams Announces Withdrawal From BNP Paribas Open

INDIAN WELLS, CA - World No. 1 and two-time BNP Paribas Open champion Serena Williams withdrew from the tournament Tuesday, citing a lingering knee injury.

Williams, 35, will also withdraw from the Miami Open, which begins later this month, according to a statement released on her behalf.

"I have not been able to train due to my knees and am disappointed I cannot be there," her statement read. "I will keep moving forward and continue to be positive. I look forward to being back as soon as I can."

The announcement comes one day after Williams was announced as the No. 1 seed in the WTA main drawat the BNP Paribas Open, which gets underway Wednesday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The women's draw will be reshuffled, organizers said, pushing world No. 3 Karolina Pliskova to Williams' slot and pushing No. 5 seed Dominika Cibulkova into Pliskova's spot.

Organizers will release an updated draw soon.

– By City News Service / Patch file photo by Jessica Davis