2023 will be another after previous year without a presence of ATP world number 1 in the main draw of Australian Open. This time, Carlos Alcaraz published a statement about his withdrawal due to an semimembranosus muscle injury caught up during his AO preparations. "When I was at my best in preseason, I picked up an injury through a chance, unnatural movement in training. This time it's the semimembranosus muscle in my right leg." - announced the Spaniard on his Twitter. Hungarian Atilla Balazs earned the main-draw place given by the bad luck of Alcaraz.
Another dissapointment comes out in the women draw, where Venus Williams were supposed to get a wild card. 42 y/o American has appeared in WTA 250 tournament in Auckland, where she managed to advance into R16. Unfortunately, her chance to play in Australian Grand Slam is also gone due to an injury. Australian Kim Birrell will be the one who get wild card due to Williams's withdrawal.
