Injured Serena skips China tennis events

World No.2 Serena Williams will skip two Chinese WTA events due to a shoulder injury, but will work to be OK for the season-ender in Singapore.

Serena Williams has withdrawn from two WTA events in China due to a right shoulder injury.

The world No.2, who lost her long-time top ranking at the US open to Germany's Angelique Kerber, will skip the Chinese stops in Wuhan and Beijing for the second year in a row.

Williams initially referred to her shoulder injury during the US Open, when she exited in the semi-finals to Karolina Pliskova, who lost the final to Kerber.

Since losing in New York, Williams has been active, showing a line at New York Fashion Week and holidaying in France before attending the dedication of a tennis academy in Nice founded by her French coach.

Williams has played in only eight WTA events in 2016 - winning titles in Rome and Wimbledon - after playing 11 in the previous season.

The WTA says Williams aims to be ready for the season-ending event in Singapore in October.