Victoria Azarenka withdrew from Wimbledon on Thursday, having failed to recover from a knee injury that cut short her French Open.
Injuries wrecked both 2014 and 2015 for Azarenka, with a third consecutive year now threatening to go the same way for the two-time major winner.
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The draw to decide first-round matches will be held on Friday. Competition begins Monday. Defending champion Serena Williams and French Open winner Garbine Muguruza are the top two seeds.
Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from #Wimbledon due to a knee injury. Get well soon, @vika7 . pic.twitter.com/Zkt8m36aLJ
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 23, 2016
Azarenka had three WTA Tour titles by early April in a stunning start to the year, but a back injury hampered her clay-court preparations. She was forced to retire injured in a first-round match against Karin Knapp at Roland Garros.
Azarenka's withdrawal could be followed by that of fifth seed Simona Halep, who withdrew from warm-up tournaments because of a sore Achilles tendon.
Rafael Nadal pulled out of the men's competition because of a wrist injury.
With the withdrawal of Azarenka, of Belarus, Germany's Andrea Petkovic moved into the 32 women's seeds. Venus Williams of the United States advanced to a top-eight position.