VIDEO: Venus Williams’ Australian Open Injury Leaves A Void In American Tennis

Just in time for our continued lamenting of the sorry state of American tennis at the Australian Open 2011, here’s video of an injured Venus Williams retiring from her third-round match. It’s not easy viewing or easy listening; she sounds like she’s in a lot of pain and looks as though it hurts just to stand.
With her sister out of the tournament thanks to injuries of her own and every other American woman knocked out by the end of the second round, this year will mark the fourth time in the Open era with nobody representing the USA in a major tournament round of 16. And with Serena ailing and Venus saying she won’t play again until she’s fully recovered, it could be a while before the American women have a Williams sister at the head of the pack to trail. Not that they should feel pressured to make an early comeback, mind: It’s the Williams sisters we’re talking about. They’ve got nothing left to prove at this point and are getting to the age where pressing on hurt could do irreversible damage to their frames.