Serena Williams’s great and strange season came to an apparent end on Thursday when she announced that she would not play in the China Open in Beijing next week or the WTA Finals in Singapore later this month.
In a statement, Williams, who turned 34 on Saturday, cited a need to recover from injuries that had troubled her during the year but did not keep her from winning five titles, including three major tournaments, and compiling a 53-3 record.
She also cited the emotional pain of failing to complete the Grand Slam last month at the United States Open.