Venus out of Australian Open

Venus Williams has pulled out of the Australian Open in Melbourne with a wrist injury.

The American joins world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne in withdrawing, and her absence will no doubt re-open the debate about the timing of the season's first grand slam.

Henin-Hardenne earlier pulled out for undisclosed personal reasons while Russian duo Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova will also be missing.

Meanwhile Russian, Nikolay Davydenko, is doubtful for the men after retiring from his second round match at the Medibank International with a foot injury.