US tennis star was supposed to face Australian Ashleigh Barty after both players advanced to the semifinals.
"Hours after she [Barty] and Serena Williams both were victorious in match tiebreaks in the quarterfinal round at the Yarra Valley Classic, the No.5 seeded American withdrew from Saturday's projected semifinal due to a right shoulder injury, affording Barty a spot in the championship match in her first event in nearly a full calendar year", the WTA said in a press release.
Serena Williams Withdraws From Yarra Valley Classic Tournament in Australia Due to Injury
© AP Photo / Kirsty Wigglesworth
In the final, Barty will face a winner of a semifinal game between Czech player Marketa Vondrousova and Spain's Garbine Muguruza.