Tennis:World number one Justine Henin-Hardenne has revealed she will not compete in the Australian Open for family reasons.
The diminutive Belgian announced she would not participate in the WTA series of tournaments to be staged Down Under, including the Open itself.
The French Open champion said in a statement on www.henin-hardenne.be: "I have to withdraw from the Australian tournaments for personal family reasons.
"A new calendar schedule will be made once I have decided, and I will return to you. I want to thank you in advance for respecting my choices, and my private life."
The 24-year-old ended 2006 on top of the WTA rankings but will not now defend her Sydney title nor enter the opening grand slam event of the season in Melbourne on January 15th.
Henin-Hardenne has won five career grand slam titles and only needs to triumph at Wimbledon to compete a career slam.
She won the Australian Open in 2004, the US Open the year before and has three times prevailed at Roland Garros in Paris where she will defend her title this year.
Tim Henman has also pulled out of the tournament after suffering an injury to his right knee.
The 32-year-old British number two requires 10 days rest and will not be ready for action. The Englishman has not played since October, when he jarred a knee which is thought to have flared up two weeks ago.
"Although my back is absolutely fine, there are other parts that can be vulnerable if I don't move right," Henman told the Times.
"I just tweaked the lower part of the hamstring tendon behind the knee and it needs rest," he said.
"I would have loved to have played in Australia, getting a bit of sun on my back, but it gives me a few more weeks to prepare for the year and I intend to hit the ground running in February."