Serena Williams suffers surgery again with toes woe

Serena Williams

(GETTY IMAGES)

Serena Williams's preparations for the Australian Open have been hampered by surgery on her big toes.

Williams has subsequently pulled out of an exhibition match against world No 1 Victoria Azarenka in Thailand later this month. Williams spent almost a year off the tour with a foot injury, and then a blood clot on her lungs, after she stepped on broken glass on her way out of a restaurant in Munich in July 2010.

"I am being advised by my doctors to take more time to heal following a minor procedure I needed to address my ongoing foot issues," Williams said.