Profile picture of Venus Williams© AFP
Organizers say Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open after suffering an injury at the Auckland Classic. The 42-year-old American has accepted a wildcard to compete in the opening Grand Slam of the year at Melbourne Park, the tournament she played for the first time in 1998 and in which she has reached the final twice, losing both. twice before her sister Serena. “Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to an injury sustained at the ASB (Auckland) Classic in New Zealand,” the Australian Open tweeted late Saturday.
Australia’s Kim Birrell will take her place.
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams put in a classic performance in the opening round in Auckland last week, beating fellow American Katie Volynets 7-6 (7/4), 6-2. But she excelled in the round of 16 against Zhu Lin of China.
The Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on January 16, will also be without world number one Carlos Alcaraz, who withdrew on Friday with a right leg injury.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was automatically generated from the aggregate feed.)
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