Top-ranked Serena Williams announced Friday the she's pulling out of the U.S. Open because she is still recovering from cutting her foot last month. Her agent and the U.S. Tennis Association confirmed her withdrawal.

In 35 years of women's tennis rankings, never before has the No. 1 player missed the U.S. Open.

Serena Williams will be the first.

About 1Z\x weeks before the year's last Grand Slam tournament begins, the U.S. Open lost its female favorite and one of its leading characters when three-time champion Williams withdrew, saying she still is recovering from surgery to repair cuts on her right foot.

"It is with much frustration and deep sadness that I am having to pull out of the U.S. Open," Williams said in a statement released Friday by her publicist.

Williams, whose 13 major singles titles are the most among active women, said doctors advised her not to play so her foot can heal. She called missing the tournament "one of the most devastating moments of my career."

Last year, she lost in the U.S. Open semifinals after a tirade at a line judge over a foot-fault call, an outburst that drew a record fine.

The 28-year-old American reportedly was hurt by a broken glass at a restaurant while she was in Munich last month — shortly after winning her fourth Wimbledon singles title on July 3, and before playing in an exhibition match against Kim Clijsters that drew a tennis-record crowd of 35,681 in Brussels on July 8.

Williams had surgery in Los Angeles on July 15. She already had pulled out of three hard-court tournaments she was scheduled to enter in preparation for the U.S. Open and also skipped playing World TeamTennis.

Williams' withdrawal also means she won't team with older sister Venus to defend the doubles title they won in New York last year. Venus, who hasn't competed on tour since Wimbledon because of a bothersome left knee, is expected to play singles at Flushing Meadows.

Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion, said Serena Williams' absence is a "fairly big-sized hit for the tournament."

"I haven't had a chance to talk to her about it, but I do know the U.S. Open is probably her favorite event, so obviously, if she's this far out and is not going to play, it's got to be something pretty serious, which is unfortunate," Roddick said, "because there's no doubt about who the top draw card is in New York City as far as the women's side of the draw."

Williams is the only No. 1 woman to miss the U.S. Open since the rankings began in 1975, according to the U.S. Tennis Association.