"Just sorry to have to say that I have pulled out of the tournament. There's some problem on my left knee area which started from last night's match. I did finish last night's match but I can't play today, you know, not fit to play professional tennis today," Venus told a press conference Friday afternoon. (Photo: Xinhua)

    BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Third seed Venus Williams has withdrawn from the China Open WTA tournament here on Friday.

    "Just sorry to have to say that I have pulled out of the tournament. There's some problem on my left knee area which started from last night's match. I did finish last night's match but I can't play today, you know, not fit to play professional tennis today," Venus told a press conference Friday afternoon.

    The world number seven has been scheduled to meet Marta Domachowska from Poland in a quarter-final matchup, which would not start until 1430 local time (0630 GMT), after Venus overcame unseeded Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-3, 6-1 in a second-round clash on Thursday.

    Leading 4-1 in the second set of Thursday's match, the five-time Grand Slam title holder was bothered by a left knee injury and called timeout to treat her knee which halted the match for more than five minutes.

    After coming back to the court, Venus resumed her undisputed excellent performance to convert two match points in her opponent's server for win, and even danced to the music after taking the victory for celebration.

    "What's a regret! I have so much fun. Here I played well and even danced on court. I'm having fun time in Beijing obviously now. I have great time. I hope really I can come next year. But I just really start worry about the sore," added the American after announcing her withdrawal on Friday.

    It's only the third time that Venus, the former world number one, withdrew from a WTA tournament due to fitness problems causedby a new injury. And she said the Guangzhou Open later this monthis still on her schedule.

    "So far I'm still going down there (for Guangzhou Open) and do my best," said Venus, who seemed all healthy after a injury-haltedmatch but waked up next morning to decide on withdrawal.

    Spokeswoman for the world governing body of female tennis professionals WTA told Xinhua that the injury suffered by Venus exactly was "a left knee pain, nothing about sprain or ligament, but her train companying here said she can't play any more."

    Another anonymous WTA official said Venus would not receive punishment since she had played here and made the tournament.

    Before Venus pulled out, world number two Lindsay Davenport has announced to skip the 585,000 US dollars hardcourt event at the last minute and Serena Williams surprisingly lost to the 129-ranked home player Sun Tiantian in a second-round showdown on Wednesday, citing an excuse of left ankle injury. Enditem