By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, January 7, 2023
Venus Williams’ Australian Open is over before it began.
The 42-year-old Williams withdrew from the Australian Open with an unspecified injury, the tournament announced today.
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Former world No. 1 Williams had received a wild card into the year’s first Grand Slam, which starts on January 16th in Melbourne Park. Australia’s Kim Birrell will receive Williams’ wild card.
Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to an injury sustained at the ASB Classic in New Zealand.
Australia’s Kim Birrell will be awarded her wildcard place.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 7, 2023
Williams sustained the injury playing the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.
Wild card Williams defeated 21-year-old compatriot Katie Volynets 7-6(4), 6-2 for her first Tour-level win in more than a year at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The win. The twirl. The smile. 🥰@Venuseswilliams starting off 2023 with a signature victory 💯#ASBClassic pic.twitter.com/f0krKsYMqi
— wta (@WTA) January 2, 2023
In her second-round match, Williams won the first set before bowing to China’s Lin Zhu 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.
At times during that match, Williams’ service toss was uncharacteristically low though that may have been due to windy conditions in Auckland.
The ASB Classic was set to serve as Williams’ preparation for this month’s Australian Open.
The four-time Olympic gold-medal champion was aiming to make her 22nd appearance in Melbourne, a full quarter century after her 1998 debut.
Two-time AO singles finalist Venus Williams partnered sister Serena Williams to four Australian Open doubles titles. Venus also joined forces with Justin Gimelstob to win the 1998 Australian Open mixed doubles championship.
Serena Williams defeated Venus Williams in a historic 2017 Australian Open final.
Photo credit: Getty
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