China’s Zheng Jie is out of next month’s Australian Open as a slow-healing wrist injury continues to cause problems for the world number 26.
Jie, who has not played since the US Open, has been battling with her left wrist problem for months. Chinese media reported that the 27-year-old is out of the first Grand Slam event of the season from January 17.
The absence will hurt her WTA ranking as points from a 2010 semifinal drop from the computer. “It’s a hard decision for me to make,” Jie said on her Twitter account. “I have plenty of good memories and experiences there. “But I believe there will be more Australian Opens for me to attend if I can regain my health.”
