Melbourne, Jan. 7 (BNA): Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has withdrawn from this month’s Australian Open due to injury, organizers of the season’s first Grand Slam tournament announced.
Reuters reports that Williams was scheduled to play her 22nd Australian Open after being awarded a wildcard to play in the tournament between January 16-29.
The 42-year-old American, a two-time finalist at Melbourne Park who is now ranked outside the top 1000, was preparing for the tournament at the Auckland Classic where she was injured.
The Australian Open said in a tweet on Twitter: “Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to an injury she sustained at the ASB Classic in New Zealand.”
Williams exited the US Open in the first round with a loss to unseeded Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck and only returned to action in Auckland, where she beat compatriot Katie Volynets before losing to China’s Zhou Lin.
Australia’s Kimberly Pearl was given her spot as a wildcard.
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