Seven-times Grand Slam champion Venus Williams pulled out of this month's Australian Open due to injury, the organisers of the season's first Grand Slam said on Saturday.
Williams was set to play her 22nd Australian Open after being awarded a wildcard to the January 16-29 tournament.
The 42-year-old American, twice a finalist at Melbourne Park who is now ranked outside the top 1,000, was preparing for the tournament at the Auckland Classic, where she got injured.
"Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to an injury sustained at the ASB Classic in New Zealand," the Australian Open said in a tweet.
Williams crashed out of the US Open in the first round with a loss to unseeded Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck. He only returned to action in Auckland, where she downed compatriot Katie Volynets before losing to China's Zhu Lin.
Australia's Kimberly Birrell was awarded her wildcard place.
Sabalenka, Pegula maintain winning momentum at US Open
India to play Japan in historic T20I
Zverev survives Halys scare to reach US Open third round
Clinical Rybakina marches into US Open third round
Australia's Kyrgios given one-month ban for 'social' cocaine use
