Petkovic and Venus Williams withdraw from Australian Open

With the 2012 Australian Open just around the corner, the tournament withdrawals are mounting. Today, the No. 10 seed, Andrea Petkovic of Germany withdrew with a stress fracture in her lower back. The injury could keep her sidelined for two months.

Petkovic lost 7-5, 6-4 to Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in a second-round match at the Sydney International on Tuesday. She needed an injury time-out during the match to receive treatment from a trainer.

Clijsters works through rehab, plans for 2012 season

Australian Open defending champion, Kim Clijsters, is planning to try to defend her title in Melbourne in 2012.

Clijsters has not played much since winning her first Australian Open title last January. She has been hampered by foot, shoulder and abdominal injuries. She dropped out of the top 10 this week, marking the first time since May 2007 that Clijsters, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams were not in the top 10.

Clijsters is back on the practice courts preparing to play in an exhibition in Belgium in December, trying to get on track for the 2012 season. Clijsters wrote in her blog on Tuesday:

Venus Williams withdraws from the U.S. Open

Two-time champion Venus Williams of the USA has withdrawn from the U.S. Open due to an illness.

Williams was scheduled to play 22nd-seeded Sabine Lisicki in the 2nd round.

In a statement afterward, she said: “I have been recently diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is an ongoing medical condition that affects my energy level and causes fatigue and joint pain.”

The 31-year-old 36th ranked Williams pulled out of two hard-court tuneup tournaments this summer because of a virus. In her first match in two months, Williams beat 91 ranked Vesna Dolonts of Russia 6-4, 6-3 in round one at Flushing Meadows on Monday.

Cibulkova dismisses Wozniacki, Pironkova sends Venus packing

No. 24 seed, Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, played her heart out and narrowly defeated No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in round four at Wimbledon, 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-5.

Also, No. 32 seed, Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria easily downed No. 23 seed, Venus Williams of the USA.

In the Quarterfinals, Dominika will face No. 6 seed, Maria Sharapova of Russia. Tsvetana will face No. 8 seed, Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.

With Wozniacki, and both Williams sisters out of the picture, it sure opens up the field for the remaining players. Perhaps this is the year Maria Sharapova will add another championship to her list of titles.

Sharapova suffers 4th round loss to Petkovic

Former No. 1, Maria Sharapova, was sent packing in the 4th round at the 2011 Australian Open by No. 30 seed, #33 Andrea Petkovic of Germany.

Petkovic won the match in a surprisingly easy fashion in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. This is the first time the 23-year-old Petkovic has reached the Quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament, and is the lowest ranked player remaining in the draw.

Petkovic had reached the fourth round when Venus Williams pulled out injured after just seven points, but looked right at home against a much more experienced Sharapova.

Venus Williams out with injury

No. 4 seed, #5 Venus Williams of the USA withdrew after only six minutes of play from her third round match against No. 30 seed, #33 Andrea Petkovic of Germany.

Williams, who injured her pelvic muscle during her gruelling three-set match against Sandra Zahlavova, began serving in the second night match on Rod Laver Arena, but was soon broken by a determined-looking Petkovic, winning just one point. And, having stretched and failed for a Petkovic passing shot, the multi-Grand Slam champion hobbled to her chair after the seventh point. Head in her hands, and consulting the trainer, she made the decision to retire from a Grand Slam singles match for the first time since 1994.

Venus Williams struggles in return to the court

Venus Williams, the World No. 5 women’s tennis player, is struggling after returning from an injury-laden last season.

Venus missed a majority of the 2010 season with an injury to her left knee. She made her return to the court Thursday in an exhibition tournament in Hong Kong.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion really struggled against the current Wold No. 2 Vera Zvonareva of Russia. Vera won easily 6-4, 6-2. Venus committed 16 unforced errors, while hitting only five winners in the entire match.

Venus Williams sidelined for rest of 2010

No. 3 Venus Williams is done for the season because of a left knee injury that has sidelined her for most of the second half of 2010.

Williams has not played since the U.S. Open, where she lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Kim Clijsters.

She was to due to play in the China Open this week but withdrew because of her knee problems, raising doubts about her chances of playing in the Fed Cup final and the WTA Championships.

“I am very disappointed to announce that I will be unable to play in the season-ending WTA Championships and Fed Cup final,” she said in a statement.

Clijsters claims her third U.S. Open Title

Kim Clijsters claimed her third U.S. Open Title today in convincing fashion, defeating Vera Zvonareva in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1.

Kim served to open the match. Both players held serve for the first five games, with Kim holding only a slight edge in the quality of play, which was high.

Kim held serve at love in the 5th game, to make the score 3-2. When Vera served, she put the ball into the net with a forehand at 30-40 to bring up the first break point, the sent the ball long with a backhand to give Kim the break.

Clijsters defeats Venus Williams for spot in U.S. Open Final

Defending champion Kim Clijsters reached the final again at the U.S. Open by defeating the No. 3 seed and 2-time U.S. Open champion, Venus Williams 4-6, 7-6(7-2), 6-4.

Kim won her 20th straight U.S. Open match in the 2-hour, 23-minute semifinal match at the National Tennis Cernter in New York. She knocked off Venus last year in the fourth round of the U.S. Open and then beat her sister in the semifinals when Serena Williams was given a point penalty to end the match after berating an official over a foot-fault call.