Serena Williams to skip Australian Open 2022

The
40-year-old
has
not
played
competitive
tennis
since
suffering
a
torn
hamstring
at
Wimbledon
in
June.

The
American
tennis
great
had
stated
last
month
that
she
was
felling
better
and
planned
to
play
in
the
first
Grand
Slam
of
2022
scheduled
to
be
held
at
Melbourne
Park
from
January
17
to
30,
2022.

However,
Serena
decided
not
to
not
go
in
search
of
a
record-equalling
24th
major
title
next
month,
though,
revealing
she
is
not
fit
enough
to
take
her
place
in
the
draw.

All
our
love,

@serenawilliams
💙

Come
back
stronger
💪

#AusOpen
pic.twitter.com/HrrG1FFILF

—
#AusOpen
(@AustralianOpen)

December
8,
2021

The
23-time
Grand
Slam
champion
said
in
a
statement
which
wa
shared
by
tournament
organisers-
“Following
the
advice
of
my
medical
team,
I
have
decided
to
withdraw
from
this
year’s
Australian
Open.
While
this
is
never
an
easy
decision
to
make,
I
am
not
where
I
need
to
be
physically
to
compete.

“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.”

The
legendary
American’s
last
Grand
Slam
triumph
came
at
the
Australian
Open
in
2017.

While
Serena
will
not
compete,
world
number
one
Ash
Barty
will
participate,
as
will
US
Open
champion
Emma
Raducanu
and
four-time
Grand
Slam
winner
Naomi
Osaka.

Andreescu
to
miss
Australian
Open
as
she
focuses
on
mental
health

Earlier,
2019
US
Open
champion
Bianca
Andeescu
had
also
decised
to
skip
the
2022
Australian
Open
to
focus
on
her
mental
health
after
suffering
a
“very
challenging”
couple
of
years.

Andreescu
has
struggled
with
physical
and
mental
concerns
since
winning
the
US
Open
two
years
ago.

The
21-year-old
has
felt
the
strain
even
more
this
year,
with
her
grandmother
in
intensive
care
after
contracting
COVID-19,
Andreescu
also
testing
positive
and
spending
significant
time
in
isolation.

The
former
world
No.4
has
decided
to
skip
the
first
Grand
Slam
next
year
as
she
takes
extra
time
out
to
“reset,
recover
and
grow”,
but
vowed
to
return
“stronger
than
ever.”

The
Canadian
tweeted-
“As
you
all
know,
the
past
two
years
have
been
very
challenging
for
me
for
a
variety
of
reasons.

🙏🏼

pic.twitter.com/wGkYwrdXdE

—
Bianca
(@Bandreescu_)

December
6,
2021

“Especially
this
year
in
particular,
I
spent
multiple
weeks
in
isolation
quarantining
which
affected
me
greatly
–
both
mentally
and
physically.
In
addition,
my
grandmother
spent
several
weeks
in
the
ICU
due
to
a
covid
infection,
something
that
really
hit
me
hard.

“A
lot
of
days,
I
did
not
feel
like
myself,
especially
while
I
was
training
and/or
playing
matches.
I
felt
like
I
was
carrying
the
world
on
my
shoulders.

“I
could
not
detach
myself
from
everything
that
was
going
on
off
the
court;
was
feeling
the
collective
sadness
and
turmoil
around
it
and
it
took
its
toll
on
me.

“I
want
to
give
myself
extra
time
to
reset,
recover
and
grow
from
this
(as
cliche
[sic]
as
that
sounds)
and
continue
to
inspire
by
doing
charity
work,
giving
back
and
working
on
myself
because
I
know
by
doing
this,
I
will
come
back
stronger
than
ever.
“

I
will
therefore
not
start
my
season
in
Australia
this
year,
but
will
take
some
additional
time
to
reflect,
train
and
be
ready
for
the
upcoming
2022
season.”

(With
inputs
from
Agencies)