Injury crisis hits Open build-up

A catalog of injuries threatens to wreak havoc with the Australian Open and put more pressure on women's tour organizers to reform the playing schedule.

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.

World No 1 Serena Williams is chief among the injury concerns after she pulled out of the Hopman Cup exhibition tournament with a sore knee.