Serena plans to be healthy for US Open

Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams says she is recovering from her foot injury and should be healthy in time for the US Open which begins in less than two weeks.

Williams, who has won two of her last three tournaments, used the social networking site Twitter on Thursday to say she is motivated to compete in New York.

"Guys! Ill be ok! Ill be at the US Open! I wanna be there just as much (more) as u guys want me to!:)I'm already doing better," she wrote.

Williams pulled out of the WTA hardcourt tournament in Cincinnati Wednesday, complaining of a sore big toe on her right foot. She was scheduled to play a second round match against Australia's Samantha Stosur when she decided to pack it in.

Williams had been on a run of 12 straight wins after successive titles at Stanford and Toronto.

"I felt a pain while playing (in the first round on Tuesday) and I don't think it's the right time to be taking risks," said Williams, who underwent a foot operation after winning Wimbledon in July 2010.

That injury, followed by a pulmonary embolism, kept her away from the courts for almost a year.

She returned at Eastbourne in June, with her world ranking having slipped to 175, but the successes at Stanford and Toronto have seen her rocket up the rankings to 31 this week.

Williams said Wednesday she plans to rest the foot but also added the time off will give her a chance to go to the wedding of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who is marrying NBA player Kris Humphries in California this weekend.

"Now that I have time, I probably will (go)," said Williams, who is friends with Kardashian. LOS ANGELES, Friday AFP