Former champion Jennifer Capriati today joined a growing list of big name stars to withdraw from next week's Australian Open.
Capriati, who won back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2001 and 2002, pulled out of the exhibition event in Hong Kong last week to remain in Florida for further treatment on a back injury suffered at the end-of-season WTA Championships in Los Angeles.
Williams informed organisers last week that she had not made enough progress following knee surgery. The American, who would have been sixth seed, follows defending champion Serena Williams and 1995 winner Mary Pierce in withdrawing from the event.
Moreover, Belgian world number two Kim Clijsters today withdrew from the Adidas International in Sydney and remains a major doubt just six days from the opening Grand Slam of the season at Melbourne Park.
Jelena Dokic is also not expected to play after opting out of the Adidas International in Sydney this week with the official reason being a lack of fitness.