The world number two injured her hamstring in the year-ending WTA Championships and has not been able to recover in time to prepare for the Perth tournament, although she still intends to play the Australian Open later in January

The United States have won the event five times and will remain top seeds for the tournament, which takes place in Perth from January 3-9. Serena williams is plan to competing at the 2009 Australian Open, which will commence January 19 in Melbourne. Currently second-ranked Williams reached a pair of Grand Slam finals this past season, as she won her third U.S. Open title and was the runner-up to her older sister Venus at Wimbledon.

SIX of the top 10 ranked women's players, including Serena Williams, and five of the men's top 20 stars are confirmed to play in next month's Sydney International. Williams headlines a strong women's field along with Dinara Safina (world No.3), Elena Dementieva (No.4), Vera Zvonareva (No.7), Svetlana Kuznetsova (No.8) and Agnieszka Radwanska (No.10).

Fans of all ages lined up to meet tennis celebrities Andy Roddick and Serena Williams at Thompson-Boling Arena. 100-year old Lois Kelly was one of dozens of fans excited to get autographs, pictures, and a chance to see Roddick and Williams play for the Rock-n-Racquets exhibition game. The event is a fundraiser for the Andy Roddick Foundation which helps abused and sick children with their educational needs.