DOHA: Serena Williams will miss next week’s Qatar Open because of the flu, she said on Tuesday, marking the second consecutive tournament the world No 1 misses due to illness.

Williams, a finalist at the 2013 tournament where she lost in three sets to Victoria Azarenka, was the top seed at the February 21-27 tournament in Doha. “I unfortunately have to

withdraw from the Qatar Total Open as I have come down with flu and do not feel 100 per cent,” Williams said.