Capriati withdraws from Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Two-time Australian Open champion Jennifer Capriati has withdrawn from this year's event with a bad back.

Capriati has been sidelined by the injury for a couple of months and was unable to compete in an event in Hong Kong earlier this year.

The sixth-ranked player in the world, Capriati is the latest star on the women's side of the draw to pull out of the first major of the year.

Serena Williams, who ended Capriati's two-year title run at the event with a championship here last January, withdrew Friday citing a knee injury. Mary Pierce, who finished second here in 1997, and Jelena Dokic also have withdrawn.