MELBOURNE – Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to an undisclosed injury she picked up at a tournament in Auckland, New Zealand this week.
A seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, Williams earned a wildcard entry at the Australian Open last month to compete in her 22nd Major at Melbourne Park.
But the Australian Open on Saturday said Williams, 42, had withdrawn from the tournament from January 16. No details were given regarding the injury.
It continues a string of misfortunes for Williams, who last played at Melbourne Park in 2021.
Two-time Australian Open finalist Williams injured his ankle and knee in that performance when he awkwardly tripped over the net in a second-round match against Sara Errani.
Her best performances at Melbourne Park came when she was beaten by her sister Serena Williams in the finals in 2003 and 2017.
Now ranked 1,003, Williams said when she received the wild card in December that she was excited to return to Melbourne.
“I’ve been competing in the country for over 20 years and the Australian community has always been wholeheartedly supportive,” she said.
The five-time Wimbledon singles champion has struggled with injuries over the past two years and was only able to play four tournaments in the United States last August. She did not advance past the first round in these events and ended her season by being beaten by Alison van Uytvanck at the US Open.
But she started 2023 on a positive note by beating compatriot Katie Volynets in Auckland. In the second round she was then beaten in three sets by the Chinese Zhu Lin.
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