Karolina Pliskova, 29, sustained the injury during a training session on Wednesday; two-time Grand Slam finalist joins Serena Williams and Bianca Andreescu in being absent from the women's draw at the first major of the season.
Thursday 16 December 2021 13:38, UK
World No 4 Karolina Pliskova has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to a hand injury.
The 29-year-old, semi-finalist in Melbourne in 2019, sustained the injury during a training session on Wednesday.
Pliskova will also miss the WTA events in Adelaide and Sydney in early January.
"Unfortunately, I hurt my right hand in practice yesterday and I won't be able to play in Adelaide, Sydney and (the) Australian Open this year," Pliskova said.
The Czech, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, joins Serena Williams and Bianca Andreescu in being absent from the women's draw at the first major of the season.
Pliskova lost to world No 1 Ash Barty in the Wimbledon final in July, while she was beaten by Angelique Kerber in the 2016 US Open showpiece.
The Australian Open begins on January 17.
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