Serena Williams sets comeback date

Williams, who last played on July 4 in a Wimbledon quarter-final loss to Justine Henin, has been suffering from an injured thumb.

 She says she will enter New Haven, one week before the August 27 start of the US Open.

 "I am ready to get back on to the courts and hope to return to the form I had earlier this year," the Australian Open champion said in a Thursday statement.

 Meanwhile, the Canadian event is being hit hard by what are becoming annual defections.

 Among those missing will be Venus Williams out with a knee injury, Martina Hingis with a back problem, Amelie Mauresmo because of fatigue and Czech Nicole Vaidisova due to glandular fever.

DPA