Venus Williams to miss tour championships

MUNICH, Germany (AP) _ Venus Williams withdrew from next week's season-ending WTA championships because of a wrist injury and could be penalized by the tour. <br><br>She already had pulled out of this

Friday, October 26th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MUNICH, Germany (AP) _ Venus Williams withdrew from next week's season-ending WTA championships because of a wrist injury and could be penalized by the tour.

She already had pulled out of this week's tournament in Austria because of her wrist.

Bart McGuire, chief executive officer of the WTA Tour, said Friday the injury will be investigated. He said Williams could lose as much as $140,000 in year-end bonus money if her injury was not legitimate.

``Especially in the view of Venus' repeated confirmations of intent of play in the Sanex Championships, this is very disappointing news for the tour,'' McGuire said.

He added that Williams could face other unspecified sanctions under the tour's conduct code if the injury cannot be verified.

Martina Hingis and Monica Seles already have withdrawn from the event in Munich, leaving the WTA with seven of its top 10 players in the field. Hingis has a foot injury and Seles has declined to play in Germany since she was stabbed there in 1993.

Williams' withdrawal came a day after the United States said it would not play in the Nov. 7-11 Fed Cup in Madrid, Spain, because of security concerns.

Williams, ranked fourth in the WTA, and sister Serena could have played on the U.S. team with Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport and Seles.