Injury Forces Venus Williams to Withdraw From the Australian Open

Venus Williams will not be competing at the Australian Open this year due to an injury she picked up at the ASB Classic in New Zealand, as confirmed by tournament organizers on Twitter Saturday.

This would have been Williams’ 22nd appearance at the Australian Open, a milestone that would have marked 25 years since her debut in 1998. The 42-year-old American had recently achieved a significant milestone, securing her first tour-level singles victory in over 18 months at the ASB Classic.

She overcame fellow American Katie Volynets in a hard-fought match, winning 7-6 (4), 6-2. However, Williams’ campaign came to an end when she fell to China’s Zhu Lin 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the subsequent round.

Williams, who has twice been a finalist at the Australian Open, finishing as the runner-up in 2003 and 2017—both times to her sister Serena—was set to return to Melbourne as a wild card entrant.

Despite her current ranking falling outside the top 1000, Williams boasts a storied career with seven Grand Slam titles and has held the World No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles. In addition to Williams’ withdrawal, the Australian Open will also be missing the presence of the men’s World No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz.

The 19-year-old Spaniard announced on Friday that he will not be participating in the tournament due to a leg injury. This Grand Slam would have been Alcaraz’s first since claiming the 2022 US Open and becoming the youngest-ever World No. 1 in men’s tennis.

Further complicating the tournament’s lineup, women’s World No. 1 Iga Świątek has also withdrawn from the Adelaide International 2 due to a right shoulder injury, casting doubt on her readiness for the Australian Open.

With these serious absences, the Australian Open’s upcoming edition is shaping up to be an even more unpredictable and intriguing affair.