MELBOURNE, Australia — Two-time defending champion Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open in January because of a foot injury.
Williams has played only one exhibition match since winning Wimbledon in July. She had surgery after cutting her foot on broken glass at a restaurant following her triumph at the All England Club. She returned to practice in September, but twice put off her comeback, missing the U.S. Open, the season-ending WTA tournament, the Fed Cup and other tour events.
She said she had additional surgery last month and couldn’t risk returning before the injury had properly healed.
“While I desperately want to be back on the court and competing in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year,” Williams said Thursday, “it is imperative for my health that I continue to work with my doctors to ensure my foot heals properly.”
• Roger Federer and Andy Murray secured spots in the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals in London with straight-sets victories in their last round-robin matches.
Federer defeated Robin Soderling 7-6 (5) 6-3 to earn top spot in Group B, and Murray ousted David Ferrer 6-2, 6-2.
Their semifinal opponents will be decided today, when the last round-robin matches in Group A are played. The group features Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych and Andy Roddick, with all four still in contention for the semifinals.
Matsui returns to Japan
TOKYO — Former Rockies infielder Kazuo Matsui, who was waived by the Houston Astros in May and finished the season in the minors, returned to Japan and joined the Rakuten Eagles.
Matsui, who helped the Rockies reach the 2007 World Series, batted .267 with 615 hits and 102 stolen bases in the majors from 2004-10.
Rypien on indefinite leave
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Vancouver Canucks granted forward Rick Rypien an indefinite leave of absence — the second time in three years the 26-year-old has left the team to deal with undisclosed personal matters.
Earlier in the season, Rypien, a cousin of former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, got a six-game suspension from the NHL after grabbing a fan on his way to the dressing room in Minnesota.
Footnotes.
Golden State Warriors forward David Lee has been medically cleared to resume light conditioning a week after undergoing a second procedure on his left elbow to treat an infection.
• Memphis Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi and his girlfriend have been charged with assault following an altercation between the two in Memphis, Tenn.
• Robert Karlsson fired a 7-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead over Noh Seung-yul after the first round of the Dubai World Championship in United Arab Emirates.
• Alberto Contador reiterated his innocence over his failed doping test at the Tour de France and hinted he might quit the sport if punished, saying, “It’s early to say that, but I can’t say for sure . . . that I’ll continue.”
