Azarenka out of Wimbledon with knee injury

Former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from Wimbledon with a right knee injury, organisers said on Thursday.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.

At Wimbledon, she has reached the semi-finals twice and the quarter-finals on two occasions. Williams stopped her in three of those runs.