A second operation on Serena Williams’ foot has forced her to withdraw from the Australian Open, the first tournament of 2011 and the two-time defending champion.
Serena Williams Pulls Out Of Australian Open
The Grand Slam is William’s second consecutive Slam she has withdrawn from after she sustained a foot injury in July. Then, Williams stepped on a piece of glass at a restaurant, causing her to have surgery.
The 29-year-old American also pulled out of Hopman Cup international mixed teams competition in Perth.
Williams has only played one tournament from July, and her loss of 2,000 ranking points might cause her to drop from the top 10.
She is currently ranked No. 4.
"As I recently learned, pushing myself back into my intense training too early only caused me further injury and damage," Williams said. "While I desperately want to be back on the court and competing in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, it is imperative for my health that I continue to work with my doctors to ensure my foot heals properly.
"This decision, though heavy on my heart, is the right one. I am praying for a healthy recovery and I promise my Aussie fans and my fans around the world that I will be back better than ever as soon as I can be."
See More:
