Courier joins the list of top players to withdraw from Australian Open

(AP) 

PERTH, Australia -- Two-time champion Jim Courier withdrew Thursday from next week's Australian Open because of a shoulder injury.

The former world No. 1, from the United States, played in last week's Australian hardcourt championships at Adelaide, then withdrew from this week's Sydney International.

Courier, the Australian Open winner in 1992 and 1993, joins a growing list of leading players sidelined from the year's first Grand Slam tournament.

Last week, former French Open champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov withdrew after twisting his knee in the Doha tournament in Qatar.

The women's draw is without former champions Monica Seles, who withdrew last week for personal reasons; Steffi Graf, who has yet to return after knee surgery, and Jana Novotna.