Serena Williams has withdrawn from the French Open because of a lingering left ankle injury. The fourth-ranked player in the world has seen limited action recently because of the problem. Since retiring in the quarterfinals of the Amelia Island event in April, Williams skipped the German Open then lost in her first match of the Italian Masters last week. "I am very disappointed to be forced to withdraw from this year's Roland Garros tournament due to the re-injury of my left ankle," Williams said in a statement. "Roland Garros is a fantastic global event with great fans and I look forward to participating in next year's tournament." Williams won the French Open in 2002, reached the semifinals the following year and was a quarterfinalist last spring. She won this year's first Grand Slam, capturing the Australian Open in January for her seventh major title. "I know that with the number of stars and depth of field at Roland Garros this year, it is sure to be a thrilling event in 2005," Williams added. The tournament on the red clay starts Monday.