(MENAFN- NewsBytes)
Defending champion, Serena Williams withdraws from Australian Open
05 Jan 2018
Former world number one and Australian Open defending champion Serena Williams has withdrawn from the first grand slam of the year.
The 36-year-old American, who played her first match post child-birth in Abu Dhabi, needs more time to play competitive tennis.
She is the third big name, after Andy Murray and Japan's Kei Nishikori, to withdraw from the tournament.
I need more time says Serena
Fact
"I can compete but I don't want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time...Olympia and I look forward to coming back again." Serena concluded.
Australian Open falls short of firepower and glamour
Big stars withdraw
2018 Australian Open is set to kick off from the 15th of January.
This is the first time since 2011 that Serena Williams will miss out on the tournament.
The Australian Open, this year, will be short of steam after several top stars decided to give the tournament a miss due to injury concerns.
Australian Open title wide open after big name injuries
Lingering Injuries
Men's Tennis will be short of firepower after Britain's Andy Murray and Japan's Kei Nishikori pulled out of the tournament due to injuries.
World number 1, Rafael Nadal is also nursing some fitness concerns and so is 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka.
Former World number 1 Novak Djokovic, who has won the Australian Open six times, may miss out due to an elbow injury.
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