(Reuters) - World number one Serena Williams pulled out of the mixed teams Hopman Cup event due to a knee injury on Wednesday, less than two weeks before the start of the Australian Open.
After pulling out of Monday's tie against Ukraine with inflammation in her knee, the 34-year-old American hobbled through her match against Australian Jarmila Wolfe the following day before deciding she could not go on.
She had refused to rule out returning to the court for the United States' match against Czech Republic but officially put an end to that on Wednesday.
Williams will hope that the injury will not scupper her plans for the Australian Open, which starts in Melbourne on January 18.