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Serena Williams withdrew from the Italian Open on Tuesday ahead of her second-round match against sister Venus because of a previously injured left knee.
Tournament organisers made the announcement a day after Serena opened her clay-court season with a straight-sets win over Swedish qualifier Rebecca Peterson.
The next tournament on Serena's schedule is Roland Garros, which starts in less than two weeks.
It's the third straight event that the 37-year-old Serena has exited from due to physical problems.
She retired due to a viral illness during her third-round match against Garbine Muguruza in Indian Wells, California; and withdrew with the left knee injury before her third-round match at the Miami Open in March.
As a result of this latest withdrawal, Venus advances into the third round via a walkover.
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