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MELBOURNE, Jan 10: Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open, joining top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne as absentees from the first tennis major of the season. Williams told organizers on Wednesday she had aggravated a left wrist injury that forced her out of tournaments late last year and from the Hopman Cup mixed teams competition in Perth last week.
The former world No. 1-ranked Williams has never won the Australian Open, her best result being a loss in the final to her younger sister Serena in 2003.
The five-time Grand Slam singles titlist was ousted in the first round at Melbourne Park last year by Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova.— AP
