Serena Williams has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Australian Open, just days after losing in her highly anticipated return to tennis.
The 36-year-old athlete gave birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia on September 1 and she played her first match back on December 30 in Abu Dhabi.
“After competing in Abu Dhabi I realized that although I am super close, I’m not where I personally want to be,” Serena said in a statement. “My coach and team always said, ‘Only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way.’ I can compete – but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time.
“With that being said, and even though I am disappointed about it, I’ve decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year,” she added. “The memory of last year’s Open is one that I will carry with me, and Olympia and I look forward to coming back again. I appreciate the support and understanding of my fans and everyone at the Australian Open.”
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