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Los Angeles - Justine Henin and Serena Williams have led the annual summer injury withdrawals on the WTA, with both pulling out of upcoming California events.

 Henin, the world number one, told her website that she would not play the Carlsbad tournament from July 30, citing a wrist injury and the need to rest.

 Williams blamed a sore thumb for bowing out of next week's Stanford Classic in the north of the state.

 Eight-time Grand Slam winner Williams hurt her thumb at Wimbledon, withdrawing from the Fed Cup last weekend and a minor Cincinnati event this week.

 The Stanford event will also be without French Open finalist Ana Ivanovic, plagued with a knee injury.

 Nicole Vaidisova is out for at least several weeks with reported mononucleosis, while Amelie Mauresmo is resting in the south of France and could skip all of the hard-court summer.

 Tournament officials deny that, after statements by the coach of the double Grand Slam winner saying that she might also miss the US Open. Mauresmo underwent appendix surgery in February and missed two months before losing early at the French Open and Wimbledon.

 Maria Sharapova's schedule could also be fluid, with the Russian still suffering with a shoulder injury that required a pain-killing injection before the French Open. dpa