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Johanna Konta has renewed hopes of playing at the WTA Tour Finals after Serena Williams withdrew due to ongoing shoulder problems.
Williams has not featured since losing in the semi-finals of the US Open and has now ruled herself out of action until next year, meaning that she will not play in the season-ending finale in Singapore later this month.
That means Konta, who is also currently sidelined by an abdominal strain, could yet be included in the elite eight-woman field for Singapore, with the British number one standing ninth in the rankings.
However, she will have to watch on nervously as both Carla Suarez Navarro and Svetlana Kuznetsova compete in the Kremlin Cup in Moscow, with a tournament win for either player meaning that they will edge above Konta.
Meanwhile, Williams was clearly annoyed at being forced to miss the Tour Finals, where she has won five titles and lost in the final on two other occasions.
She confirmed in a short statement: "I am really, really bombed that I won't be able to compete. It has been a really tough year for me, just dealing with my shoulder injury.
"My doctor insists that I stay at home and heal it every single day so I can have a chance to play next year."
Last year Agnieszka Radwanska was crowned champion in Singapore, as she defeated Petra Kvitova 6-2 4-6 6-3, with Williams again absent due to injury problems.
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