ROME -- Serena Williams has withdrawn from next week's Italian Open, saying she needs more time to be "100 per cent ready to compete."
The tournament made the .
Williams returned to the tour briefly this year after a 14-month absence to give birth to her daughter.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion also withdrew from this week's Madrid Open and sitting out Rome puts her status for the French Open, which starts May 27, in doubt.
Williams, a four-time Italian Open champion, has not played since her a first-round loss to Naomi Osaka in March at the Miami Open.
Catherine Bellis takes Williams' place in the Rome draw.
We are so sad to announce that , a 4-time Champion in Rome, has withdrawn from . �� Obviously we can't wait to see her again on Foro Italico's red clay, perhaps in 2019? ��
— Internazionali Bnl (@InteBNLdItalia)
