Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova Big Casualties as Injury Crisis Hits Australian Open Build-Up

A catalogue of injuries to stars like Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova threatens to play havoc with the Australian Open and put more pressure on women's tour organisers to reform the playing schedule. (Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanska Pull Out of Sydney International)

Injuries or illness have felled most of the women's top 10 in recent weeks, in what is either a hefty dose of bad luck or something more avoidable. (Maria Sharapova Withdraws From Brisbane International Due to Injury)

World number one Serena Williams is chief among the injury concerns after she pulled out of the Hopman Cup exhibition tournament with a sore knee. (Serena Williams Out of Hopman Cup Opener With Swollen Knee)

But the 21-time Grand Slam-winner is not alone, with only her sister Venus and Flavia Pennetta - who has retired - unscathed among the women's top 10.

Simona Halep, Garbine Muguruza, Agnieszka Radwanska and Maria Sharapova have all pulled out of build-up tournaments because of injury concerns.

Meanwhile, Petra Kvitova and Angelique Kerber have been hit by gastroenteritis, while Lucie Safarova is skipping Melbourne because of a problems linked to a bacterial infection.

While illness is largely uncontrollable, Williams, Halep and Sharapova are all still hampered by injuries which affected them last season, whose tail-end was unusually busy.

Problems on the men's side are also comparatively light, suggesting a link between the injuries and the women's tour - whose schedule has repeatedly been criticised by players.

Incoming Women's Tennis Association (WTA) CEO Steve Simon has already promised "fundamental changes" to the demanding calendar after a string of injuries and withdrawals towards the end of last season.

"Clearly one of the big issues that we have right now is dealing with getting our athletes through the season healthy," he said at the WTA Finals in Singapore.