Vera Zvonareva withdraws from Australian Open

[December 22, 2012]  MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Vera Zvonareva has withdrawn from the Australian Open in January with a right shoulder injury.

The two-time Grand Slam runner-up made the announcement on her Facebook page Friday, saying "I will not be able to go to Australia this year ... my body is not 100 percent recovered."

The Russian also missed the U.S. Open this year because of a viral illness and the French Open with the same shoulder injury.

Ranked as high as No. 2 but now 49th, Zvonareva lost the 2010 Wimbledon final to Serena Williams and that year's U.S. Open final to Kim Clijsters.

The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Jan. 14.

[Associated Press]

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