Venus Williams will miss the remainder of the 2010 tennis season, including next month’s Fed Cup final showdown with Italy, because of a nagging left knee injury.

Williams has not played since losing to eventual champion Kim Clijsters in last month’s US Open semi-finals and had not played before that since falling in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in June.

Williams and her top-ranked sister Serena had planned to play for the US at San Diego on November 6-7 against defending champions Italy in the Fed Cup final.

“Venus is done for the rest of the season with a left knee injury,” US Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez said.

“It’s unfortunate that Venus is hurt again and won’t be able to play in the Fed Cup final. We wish her a speedy recovery so that she is ready for next year.”

The Williams sisters must play twice for the US Fed Cup squad between now and the 2012 London Olympics to be eligible for those Games.

With Venus out, the door is open for either Melanie Oudin or Bethanie Mattek-Sands to play singles and doubles star Liezel Huber figures to take the court now that the Williams sisters cannot play doubles together.

Serena has not played since winning the Wimbledon crown after cutting her feet on broken glass.

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