Venus Williams pulls out of Madrid with back problem

Reuters: Former world number one Venus Williams has been forced to withdraw from the Madrid Open due to a back problem, organisers said on Sunday. The 32-year-old American, now ranked 21, was due to play her first-round match against Spanish wild card Anabel Medina Garrigues on the clay at the premier event on Sunday. She will be replaced in the draw by 56th-ranked Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland.