Venus Williams withdraws from Australian Open with injury | Tennis news

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has withdrawn from this month’s Australian Open due to injury, organizers of the first Grand Slam of the season said on Saturday.

Williams was scheduled to play in the 22nd Australian Open after being granted a wildcard into the tournament, which runs from 16 to 29. January.

The 42-year-old American, a two-time Melbourne Park finalist now ranked in the top 1000, was preparing for the Auckland Classic when he was injured.

“Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open at the ASB Classic in New Zealand due to an injury,” the Australian Open said in a tweet.

Williams crashed out of the US Open in the first round, losing to unseeded Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium, and did not return to action until Auckland, where she knocked out compatriot Katie Volynets before losing to China’s Zhu Lin.

Australia’s Kimberly Birrell was awarded her wild card slot.

World No. 1 Alcaraz also out of the Australian Open

World number one Carlos Alcaraz will also miss the Australian Open due to a leg injury.

The 19-year-old Spaniard, who won his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open in September, revealed that he suffered a muscle injury in his right leg during pre-season training.

Writing on social media, Alcaraz said: “It’s time to deal with another blow. When I was at my best in the pre-season, I got injured by an accident, an unnatural movement in training.

“I had worked hard to get to my best level in Australia but unfortunately I won’t be able to play Care A2+ Kooyong [warm-up event] or the Australian Open. It’s hard, but I have to be optimistic, recover and look forward. See you in 2024 @australianopen.”