Williams still expected in Brisbane

BRISBANE, Australia — Brisbane International organizers say Serena Williams still plans to compete at the Dec. 30-to-Jan. 5 tournament despite minor surgery on her big toes which forced her to withdraw from a Dec. 29 exhibition in Thailand.

Brisbane tournament director Cameron Pearson said Thursday he had been assured by Williams' agent that the WTA player of the year will "be fit and ready" for the event at the Queensland Tennis Centre.

Williams has been affected by chronic foot problems since treading on glass and badly cutting both feet in 2010.

The five-time Australian Open winner played at last year's Brisbane International but pulled out with an ankle injury at the quarterfinals. Later in the year, she won Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and gold in women's singles at the London Olympics.

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Sharapova to miss Brisbane event

BRISBANE, Australia — Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Brisbane International because of her continuing recovery from a left ankle injury.

Sharapova was hurt at the Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo in September.

Sharapova told Brisbane tournament officials in a statement released Saturday that "unfortunately my ankle is not 100 percent and I won't be able to make it this year."

It would have been her first appearance at the Brisbane event, which begins Jan. 1.

She said the injury, which also forced her to withdraw from the China Open and later the WTA Championships in Istanbul after two losses, should not affect her chances of competing at the Australian Open, which she won in 2008 and which begins Jan. 16 in Melbourne.

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