Former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from Wimbledon with a right knee injury, organisers said on Thursday.
Azarenka of Belarus had been seeded sixth at the championships, but had not played since retiring from a first-round match last month at the French Open.
It is yet another blow for the two-time Australian Open champion who has been plagued by foot injuries.
Her withdrawal means Australian Samantha Stosur moves from 15th up to 14th in the seedings, while five-time champion Venus Williams is elevated into the top eight.
Azarenka has won three titles this year, including two of the biggest outside the majors, Indian Wells and Miami, in March. She beat Serena Williams in the Indian Wells final.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
At Wimbledon, she has reached the semi-finals twice and the quarter-finals on two occasions. Williams stopped her in three of those runs.
