Zvonareva withdraws from Australian Open

Two-time Grand Slam runner-up Vera Zvonareva has withdrawn from the Australian Open in January with a right shoulder injury.

Zvonareva made the announcement on her Facebook page on Friday, saying “I will not be able to go to Australia this year ... my body is not 100 per cent recovered.”

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

Zvonareva lost the 2010 US Open final to Kim Clijsters and the Wimbledon final the same year to Serena Williams.

The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on January 14.