Venus Williams withdraws from the 2023 Australian Open because of injury

Serena Williams

Serena Williams

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Venus Williams Has been dropped from the 111th Australian Open.

On Saturday morning, organizers announced via Twitter that the 42-year-old Grand Slam winner had been forced to retire. withdraw from the upcoming Melbourne-based tournament This week, I sustained an injury while competing in the ASB Classic in New Zealand.

Kim Birrell from Australia will take her wildcard slot in the tournament.

RELATED: Serena Williams Gives Tour of Sister Venus Williams’ Trophy Collection: ‘And She’s Still Going’

Venus made her Australian Open debut at the 1998 tournament. She has since competed in 21 of the event’s events.

Together with her sister Serena WilliamsShe previously won the Australian Open women’s doubles tennis title in 2001, 2003 and 2009. In 2003 and 2017, she beat her sibling to win the women’s singles title.

The former singles and duals No. 1 participated this week in the ASB Classic. She beat fellow American. Katie Volynets 7-6 (4) 6-2 in the first round. In the next round, Williams was defeated by China. Zhu Lin 3-6 6-2 7-5.

William’s Australian Open exit occurred hours after the No. 1 singles for men. 1 Carlos Alcaraz A training injury led to the withdrawal of another participant.

“When preseason was my best, I picked up an injury “Through a chance movement in training,” the Spanish soccer player wrote on Twitter. “This is the semimembranosus muscle of my right leg.

RELATED VIIDEO: Serena Williams thanked Sister Venus after the Final Match: Wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus’

“I had worked so hard to reach my highest level for Australia, but it was too late. I won’t be able to play Care A2+ Kooyong, or the Australian Open. Although it’s difficult, I must remain positive, continue to recover, and keep looking forward. In a follow up tweet, Alcaraz (19) added that “See you in 2024 @AustralianOpen.”

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The Australian Open starts Monday, January 16 at Melbourne Park and continues through Sunday, January 29.

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