By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, January 7, 2023
Venus Williams’ Australian Open is over earlier than it started.
The 42-year-old Williams withdrew from the Australian Open with an unspecified harm, the match introduced as we speak.
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Former world No. 1 Williams had acquired a wild card into the 12 months’s first Grand Slam, which begins on January sixteenth in Melbourne Park. Australia’s Kim Birrell will obtain Williams’ wild card.
Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open on account of an harm sustained on the ASB Classic in New Zealand.
Australia’s Kim Birrell will likely be awarded her wildcard place.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 7, 2023
Williams sustained the harm enjoying 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 additional than a 12 months on the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The win. The twirl. The smile. ????@Venuseswilliams beginning off 2023 with a signature victory ????#ASBClassic pic.twitter.com/f0krKsYMqi
— wta (@WTA) January 2, 2023
In her second-round match, Williams gained the primary set earlier than bowing to China’s Lin Zhu 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.
At instances throughout that match, Williams’ service toss was uncharacteristically low although which will have been on account of windy situations in Auckland.
The ASB Classic was set to function Williams’ preparation for this month’s Australian Open.
The four-time Olympic gold-medal champion was aiming to make her twenty second look in Melbourne, a full quarter century after her 1998 debut.
Two-time AO singles finalist Venus Williams partnered sister Serena Williams to 4 Australian Open doubles titles. Venus additionally joined forces with Justin Gimelstob to win the 1998 Australian Open blended doubles championship.
Serena Williams defeated Venus Williams in a historic 2017 Australian Open closing.
Photo credit score: Getty