Serena Williams says she feels she has let down the United States team and sister Venus with her late pullout from the Olympic tennis tournament due to injury but medical advice gave her no choice. "I am sad and disappointed, not only because I am unable to travel to Greece and participate in the Olympics, but also because I gave my word that I would play," said the former world number one and reigning Olympics doubles champion. Williams said on Wednesday she was withdrawing from the U.S. team coached by Zina Garrison -- just four days before the tennis tournament begins -- because of an injury to her left knee. She had been due to compete in the singles and to team up with Venus to defend the doubles title they won in Sydney. "I feel that I am letting down my sister Venus, Zina and the other members of the U.S. team by not participating," Williams said. "I have been advised that by playing, I could cause long-term damage to my knee," she added in comments released by the U.S. Olympic Committee. The same injury forced her to withdraw from recent tournaments in San Diego and Montreal. "We understand that Serena has been undergoing extensive physical therapy since San Diego and that her withdrawal has been based on the advice of her doctors," Garrison said. "We certainly respect her decision and wish Serena a healthy recovery." Olympic organisers said Williams's berth in the singles would be taken by Australia's Samantha Stosur as the highest-ranked player on site not already in the singles field. Venus Williams, the defending women's singles champion, will now team up with Chanda Rubin in the doubles. --

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