Kuznetsova out of Wimbledon - organisers

Former French Open and US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has withdrawn from Wimbledon because of an abdominal strain, the All England Club announced today.

Kuznetsova, a quarter-finalist in 2003, 2005, 2007, was to have been the 26th seed at the tournament, which starts on Monday.

But the 27-year-old Russian’s withdrawal means that Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic becomes the 32nd seed to fill the gap.

Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams pulled out of this year’s tournament because of a back injury on Tuesday.