The Australian Open has been dealt one other blow with two-time finalist Venus Williams pressured out of the Melbourne major with damage.
The information was revealed on the eve of the event by way of the official Australian Open Twitter account.
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“Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open on account of an damage sustained on the ASB Basic in New Zealand,” the tweet mentioned.
“Australia’s Kim Birrell shall be awarded her wildcard place.”
Williams earned a wildcard entry to the principle draw of the ASB Basic in Auckland and suffered a 6-3, 2-6, 5-7 loss to Lin Zhu within the spherical of 16 on Thursday.
The seven-time grand slam champion was set to look at Melbourne Park for the 22nd time, 25 years after she debuted on the event in 1998.
The 42-year-old’s greatest outcomes on the Australian Open have been in 2003 and 2017 when she made the ultimate, with each losses coming towards her sister Serena, whereas she has reached not less than the quarter-finals on 9 events.
In doubles, the Williams’ sisters have received the Australian Open title 4 instances – 2001, 2003, 2009 and 2010 – and Venus has additionally received the combined doubles crown in 1998 with Justin Gimelstob.
Venus Williams was just lately handed a wildcard for the upcoming Australian Open and mentioned she was trying ahead to returning to Melbourne.
“I’m very excited to be returning to Melbourne to compete on the Australian Open in January,” Williams mentioned in a latest assertion launched by Tennis Australia.
“I have been competing within the nation for over 20 years now and the Australian neighborhood has at all times supported me wholeheartedly.
“It is going to be an honor to play for the followers once more and I am trying ahead to creating extra reminiscences on the event this yr.”
Williams, who has a 54-21 profession win-loss file on the Australian Open, final performed within the event in 2021 when she defeated Kirsten Flipkens to achieve the second spherical, the place she fell to former world No.5 Sara Errani.
Sadly for followers, Serena Williams will not be competing in Australia both after saying she would “evolve away” from tennis following her US Open loss to Australian Ajla Tomljanovic final September.
