Venus Williams returns a shot from Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland, during the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 28, 2012, in Key Biscayne, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Venus Williams returns a shot from Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland, during the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 28, 2012, in Key Biscayne, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland, returns a shot from Venus Williams during the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 28, 2012, in Key Biscayne, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Venus Williams wipes her brow during a match against Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland, at the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 28, 2012, in Key Biscayne, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) ? Venus Williams looked weary Wednesday after winning three consecutive three-set matches, and she lost to Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open, 6-4, 6-1.
Williams' serve lacked its usual velocity, and by the final game she wasn't even chasing after shots in the corner.
The tournament was Williams' first since the U.S. Open last August, where she withdrew after being diagnosed with a fatigue-causing autoimmune disease.
Eager to keep points short in the 85-degree sunshine, Williams charged the net often but was frequently had to lunge for shots. She committed 38 unforced errors to 10 for Radwanska, and won only five of 26 points on her second serve.
She was the second Williams in 18 hours to be eliminated. Younger sister Serena lost Tuesday night to former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.
Venus Williams is ranked No. 134 and needed a wild card to enter the tournament. The three-time Olympian's goal has been improve her ranking enough to qualify for the London Games, and she's projected to climb next week back into the top 90.
In the past, the cutoff for making the Olympics has been around 68th. It will be based on rankings in early June.
Radwanska, ranked a career-best No. 4, advanced to the Key Biscayne semifinals for the first time. She's 0-4 this year against top-ranked Victoria Azarenka and 24-0 against everyone else.
She beat Williams in 2006 but had since lost five consecutive meetings.
Williams overcame a match point in the third round against Aleksandra Wozniak, then beat No. 15-seeded Ana Ivanovic. Despite a day off Tuesday, her energy reserve appeared low from the start of the quarterfinal, and she lost the first seven points.
Radwanska took advantage of Williams' lethargy, hitting several drop shots for winners and pouncing on weak second serves. Radwanska's own serve was solid, and she hit aces on the final two points of the first set.
When Williams had a chance at an easy overhead, she walked up to the ball flat-footed. Facing break point early in the second set, she mustered only a 72-mph second serve, well below her norm of 110 or more.
Williams lost the final six points, dumped her last shot into the net and left the court quickly, managing a wave and grin for the applauding crowd.
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