Melbourne: Germany`s top-ranked tennis player Andrea Petkovic has pulled out of next week`s Australian Open grand slam tournament with a stress fracture, organisers said on Wednesday.
"Don`t like to be the bearer of bad news, but Petkovic has withdrawn," tournament director Craig Tiley tweeted.
Tenth seed Petkovic`s withdrawal came shortly after seven-times grand slam winner Venus Williams pulled out, also citing health reasons.
Williams has been receiving treatment for Sjogren`s syndrome, an auto-immune disease that causes fatigue and joint soreness.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, January 11, 2012, 08:32