The 2022 Australian Open will be the first edition of the Melbourne Slam since 1997 to feature neither Serena nor Venus Williams.World No. 318 Venus Williams will not be traveling Down Under to compete at the season's opening Grand Slam, according to the Herald Sun. That will end her streak of nine consecutive appearances at Melbourne Park.Her sister, Serena Williams, pulled out of the tournament last month, saying she has not fully recovered from the hamstring injury she sustained at Wimbledon.Adam_Addicott@AdamAddicottVenus Williams will not play at the Australian Open. This makes it the first time the Australian Open is taking place without both of the Williams sisters since 1997! Source - Herald Sun2:14 PM · Dec 31, 202131058Venus Williams will not play at the Australian Open. This makes it the first time the Australian Open is taking place without both of the Williams sisters since 1997! Source - Herald SunBoth Serena and Venus made their Australian Open debuts in 1998, reaching the second round and quarterfinals respectively. While Serena has missed a total of five editions of the Australian Open, including 2022, Venus has been absent on only four occasions. 2022 will mark the first time their absences overlap.Since Venus Williams failed to secure direct entry into the main draw or a spot in the qualifiers because of her ranking, the only way she could have played at Melbourne Park was if she had been handed a wildcard. However, the Herald Sun reported that a young Australian player will be handed the spot in Venus' stead.The seven-time Grand Slam champion has never won the Australian Open, although she did finish as runner-up twice. She made the final in 2017, but ended up losing to sister Serena in straight sets. Her other finals appearance came way back in 2003, when she lost to Serena in three sets.Venus does, however, have four women's doubles titles at the Australian Open, all with her sister. The former World No. 1 also has one mixed doubles title to her name.Venus Williams has been out of action since AugustVenus Williams has been out of action since August 2021Venus Williams' last match of 2021 came at the WTA 250 Chicago Open, where she lost to Hsieh Su-wei in the Round of 32. She then pulled out of the US Open and cut her season short due to a leg injury.Even before the injury, the American's season was shaping up to be a disappointing one. The 41-year-old exited Roland Garros in the first round and did not make it past the second round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.Sportskeeda Tennis@SK__Tennis2003 and 2017 finalist Venus Williams has withdrawn from Australian Open 😔 She will be missing from Melbourne Park for the first time in a decade.#VenusWilliams #AustralianOpen #Tennis4:42 PM · Dec 31, 202112003 and 2017 finalist Venus Williams has withdrawn from Australian Open 😔 She will be missing from Melbourne Park for the first time in a decade.#VenusWilliams #AustralianOpen #Tennis https://t.co/Pb5RM7HjAuThe 2022 Australian Open was expected to be the stage for her return to competitive tennis, but that will not be the case.