Wozniacki out of Brisbane with sore shoulder

Former No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki has withdrawn from the Brisbane International after hurting her right shoulder in practice.

Wozniacki told a news conference on Sunday she was pulling out of the season-opening event in Brisbane as a precaution and was hoping to play in Sydney next week in what will be her only tune up tournament for the Australian Open.

She said, “I wanted to start of the year well. That’s why I made the decision to withdraw from here, just because I didn’t feel like there was a need to make it worse before going into the Open as well.”

The Australian Open, the first major of the season, starts January 13. Wozniacki’s best run at Melbourne Park was to the semifinals in 2011.