Serena Williams to Drop Out of Top 10; Venus Out of Top 5

Filed under: Australian Open, WTA, WTA Rankings

The year hasn't started off well for the Williams sisters, and there doesn't seem to be much light at the end of the tunnel for the injured pair.

The dominant sisters, who have won 12 Grand Slam doubles titles together, are both projected to have their WTA rankings plummet following the Australian Open.

The younger Williams, Serena, was ranked No. 1 on tour last season before injuring herself in an off-court incident that required surgery shortly after Wimbledon. The 13-time Grand Slam singles champion, who won last year's Australian Open and Wimbledon singles titles, has not returned to the tour following the accident last July.

Unable to defend her title at Melbourne Park, Serena is projected to fall out of the top 10 and is estimated to hover around the No. 13 spot, the WTA told The Associated Press. It will be a three-year low for Serena, who was ranked No. 4 entering this year's Australian Open.

Lil Kim Kelly Ripa Yvonne Strzechowski Rhona Mitra Kelly Rowland