The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Sydney

Australia's top-ranked women's tennis player Samantha Stosur will miss next month's Australian Open after failing to recover from a lingering illness, Tennis Australia said Monday.

Stosur, ranked 46 in the world, struggled with illness for the last half of the year and said she was not fit enough to compete on the Australian summer circuit, due to start this weekend.

"I am very disappointed I won't be able to compete during the Australian summer," Stosur said.

The 23-year-old was hospitalised in Florida in September after being diagnosed with viral meningitis, an illness which inflames the soft tissue membranes surrounding the brain.

She also contracted an unrelated virus in July that forced her withdrawal from Australia's Fed Cup tie against the Ukraine and ruined her US summer campaign.

Stosur was unable to compete on the WTA Tour for most of the last half of the season and only resumed training this month.

"I have been back training for the last three weeks, but I've realised that I won't be fully ready to compete at the Australian Women's Hardcourts, which starts in six days, and I've also withdrawn from the Australian Open," she said.