Serena Williams said Thursday she is withdrawing from the season-ending WTA Finals and the China Open to take time to heal after playing through injuries all year.<br />Williams, who was two wins from completing a calendar-year Grand Slam at the US Open, said she is "taking a proactive step and withdrawing from tournaments in Beijing and Singapore to properly address my health and take the time to heal.''<br />"It's no secret I've played injured most of the year - whether it was my elbow, my knee, or, in the final moments after a certain match in Flushing, my heart," Williams was quoted on the China Open website.<br />Williams, who turned 34 last Saturday, is one title short of tying Steffi Graf's career total of 22 Grand Slam championships and three behind Margaret Court's all-time record of 24.
