Melbourne: Serena Williams reluctantly pulled out Friday of this year’s Australian Open, stating that while she was close to regaining full fitness after giving birth to her first child in September, she was not fully ready to defend her title.
The 36-year-old was eight weeks pregnant last year when she triumphed for a seventh time at Melbourne Park to claim an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam titles and then took the rest of the year off before giving birth to a daughter.
Serena has played just once in public since, losing to French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in Abu Dhabi last week, but was still hopeful of making a remarkable return at the Australian Open until she admitted defeat a week ahead of the event.
“My coach and team always said ‘only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way’. 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,” Serena said in a statement which was released here by the organisers.
Serena, whose Grand Slam tally is just one shy of the all-time record held by Australian Margaret Court, said she was disappointed to withdraw but looked forward to returning in the future.
“After competing in Abu Dhabi I realised that although I am super close, I’m not where I personally want to be,” Serena said. “With that being said, and even though I am disappointed about it, I’ve decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year,” the former World No.1 added.
Serena is the latest big name to withdraw from the year’s opening Grand Slam, which will be played January 15-28, with Britain’s Andy Murray (hip) and Japan’s Kei Nishikori (wrist) having already said they would not compete.
There is also uncertainty over whether former champions Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and Rafa Nada will be fit to take to the court.
Nishikori return in Newport Beach
California: Japan’s Kei Nishikori, who withdrew Thursday from the Australian Open will launch his comeback at the inaugural Challenger Tour event in Newport Beach here, beginning January 22, the organisers said, Thursday. “I am very excited and looking forward to getting back on the court in January,” Nishikori said in a statement released by the organisers. “This will be a great opportunity to face some high-level competition and get some match play, added the player, who is currently ranked No. 22.
Reuters
