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Serena Williams to skip Australian Open, tournament wide open

By Harry Floyd

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 30: Serena Williams of United States plays a forehand against Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia during Ladies Final match on day three of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship at International Tennis Centre Zayed Sports City on December 30, 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 30: Serena Williams of United States plays a forehand against Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia during Ladies Final match on day three of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship at International Tennis Centre Zayed Sports City on December 30, 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images) /
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Serena Williams has officially withdrawn from the 2018 Australian Open. After playing an exhibition match, she has decided to not compete.

Serena Williams is the defending champion in women’s singles at the Australian Open. The American tennis superstar has announced that she will skip this year’s Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.

After returning to tennis for an exhibition match last month, Williams has decided that she is not ready to compete in the upcoming Grand Slam event. She is attempting a comeback to the sport after giving birth to her daughter.

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Last year at Melbourne Park, Williams took home the title after defeating sister Venus. She won the finals meeting over her sister in straight sets, taking the match 6–4, 6–4.

Now, the 2018 Australian Open is wide open in women’s singles tennis.

Simona Halep is the current world No. 1 on the 2018 WTA Tour. The Romanian tennis star will enter the upcoming Grand Slam as one of the favorites to win. The absence of Williams is huge for several potential contenders at the Australian Open.

Another player to watch is WTA Finals champion Caroline Wozniacki. Players such as Halep and Wozniacki remain in search of their first career Grand Slam singles titles. Halep reached the 2017 French Open finals where she fell to Jelena Ostapenko. The young Latvian tennis star competed alongside Williams at their exhibition match last month. Ostapenko could be another interesting pick to take home the title at the 2018 Australian Open.

Next: Top 10: Men's Singles Tennis

Serena Williams may be out of the Australian Open, but she ought to be back on the WTA Tour soon. She has expressed a desire to only compete in a tournament where she feels she has a strong chance of going all the way. While she is still in the early stages of her return to tennis, there is no doubt that she will be a top player in women’s singles tennis as soon as she is ready to be back. Stay tuned to see how the rest of the early 2018 WTA Tour unfolds. With action at Melbourne Park just over one week away, several top players in women’s singles tennis are vying for any and all momentum they can gather. Check back for updates on all of the action at this year’s first Grand Slam event.

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