A persistent knee injury has compelled Victoria Azarenka to pull out of the prestigious Wimbledon Championships that begin next week.
The former World No. 1 has been dormant ever since withdrawing midway through her first-round match against Italy’s Karin Knapp at the French Open last month.
Azarenka, who was slated to be the No. 6 seed in the draw this year, will now be replaced by American Venus Williams at the position.
It has been a topsy-turvy ride for Azarenka this year. Having gotten off to a flying start in 2016 – winning three titles in Brisbane, Indian Wells and Miami in the first quarter of the season – the Belarusian was suppressed by a series of injuries that ensued.
The spate of her rough patch started with the last month’s Mutua Madrid Open where a she conceded a third-round walkover citing a back injury.
The wretchedness continued for her after she got dumped out in the first round of the Rome event, withdrew from the French Open due to issues with her knee, and now failed to recover from the same in time for Wimbledon.
