Venus Williams is ruled OUT of the Australian Open after the veteran suffered an undisclosed injury

Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open for an undisclosed injury she suffered while playing in a tournament in Auckland, New Zealand this week.

A seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, Williams received a wildcard entry into the Australian Open last month to compete in what would be her 22nd major at Melbourne Park.

But the Australian Open said on Saturday that the 42-year-old Williams had withdrawn from the tournament as of January 16. It did not provide details about the injury.

Venus Williams withdrew from the Australian Open later this month due to an injury

It continues the woes for Williams, who last played at Melbourne Park in 2021.

A two-time Australian Open finalist, Williams injured her ankle and knee looking awkward at the net in a second-round match against Sara Errani.

Her best efforts at Melbourne Park came when she was beaten by her sister Serena Williams in the finals in 2003 and 2017.

Now ranked 1,003, Williams said when awarded a wildcard in December that she was excited to return to Melbourne.

The seven-time Grand Slam singles winner picked up an unspecified issue playing in Auckland

‘I have been competing in the country for more than 20 years now and the Australian community has always supported me wholeheartedly,’ he said.

The five-time Wimbledon singles champion has battled injuries over the past two years and was restricted to playing just four tournaments in the US in August. She did not advance past the first round in those events and ended her season when defeated by Alison van Uytvanck at the US Open.

But she started 2023 on a positive note by defeating fellow American Katie Volynets in Auckland. He was then defeated by China’s Zhu Lin in three sets in the second round.

The 42-year-old did not use the wildcard granted to him where he was a two-time finalist