December 08, (THEWILL) – Serena Williams has announced that she will not compete in the Australian Open in March.
The seven-time Australian Open women’s singles winner will not compete in Melbourne “following advice from her medical team” according to the Australian Open’s website.
“While this is never an easy decision to make, I am not where I need to be physically to compete,” Williams told the website. “Melbourne is one of my favourite cities to visit and I look forward to playing at the AO every year.
“I will miss seeing the fans, but am excited to return and compete at my highest level.”
Williams paused for a moment and placed her hand on her heart as she left Rod Laver Arena to a standing ovation after her semi-final loss to Naomi Osaka at this year’s Australian Open. She later tearfully cut short a presser.
Roger Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion, had previously confirmed his absence due to another round of knee surgery.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
