Serena Williams
/ AP photo
ROME (AP) — Top-ranked Serena Williams has not entered the Italian Open, although she could still play as a wild card.
Williams has been sidelined with a knee injury since her Australian Open title in January.
Williams won in 2002 in Rome, a key clay-court warmup for the French Open, en route to her only title at Roland Garros.
Tournament director Sergio Palmieri told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he spoke with Williams in Miami recently, and she asked him to hold a wild-card spot open in case she decides to play.
The tournament begins May 3.
