Williams pulls out of Australian Open

Venus Williams has withdrawn from this month’s Australian Open after sustaining an injury at a warm-up tournament. The 42-year-old had been awarded a wildcard for the Grand Slam, which begins on 16 January in Melbourne. Williams was injured during the ASB Classic in Auckland. Meanwhile, Tunisian world number two Ons Jabeur suffered a shock 6-3 […]

Venus Williams has withdrawn from this month’s Australian Open after sustaining an injury at a warm-up tournament.

The 42-year-old had been awarded a wildcard for the Grand Slam, which begins on 16 January in Melbourne.

Williams was injured during the ASB Classic in Auckland.

Meanwhile, Tunisian world number two Ons Jabeur suffered a shock 6-3 1-6 6-3 defeat by Czech 18-year-old world number 102 Linda Noskova in the Adelaide International semi-finals.

• Passengers abducted as gunmen raid Edo Train Station
• How insecurity is hampering oil exploration in Niger

Noskova, who beat two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals, will face Belarus’ world number five Aryna Sabalenka – a 6-3 6-2 winner against Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu – in Sunday’s final.

Coco Gauff reached the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland by beating Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic 6-0 6-2.

American Gauff will face Spain’s Rebeka Masarova, who beat Belgian Ysaline Bonaventure 6-3 6-3.