Thirteen-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams is a favorite to win the Australian Open 2012 title, which begins on January 16. However, her participation at the first major tournament of the season is in doubt after she sprained her left ankle at the Brisbane International tournament this week. Williams went on to win her second round match against Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia but released a statement later on that she has pulled out of the tournament.
“I have been to the hospital and it has been confirmed that I have a left ankle sprain that I probably shouldn’t play on,” the statement read.
“I’m going to take a couple of days off – not too many – and see how I feel. I’m still hopeful of playing the Australian Open.”
Williams won the Australian Open title five times in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010. She skipped the event last year.
