Serena won't play in Hopman Cup

U.S. Open champion and No. 2-ranked Serena Williams has withdrawn from next month's Hopman Cup international mixed team tournament. Organizers announced Monday that Williams would not recover from a hamstring injury she picked up at last month's WTA Championships in time for the tournament, which starts Jan. 3. She still intended to play at the Australian Open starting Jan. 19. Two-time champion James Blake will now be joined by Meghann Shaughnessy on the U.S. team, which retains the No. (link)