Serena, Venus Williams withdraw from women's doubles

Sisters Venus and Serena Williams have withdrawn from the women's doubles at the Australian Open ahead of the first round today.

Tennis Australia failed to provide a reason for their withdrawal, although the American duo are both due to play their second-round matches in the women's singles tomorrow.

The pair were scheduled to play 11th seeds Anabel Medina Garrigues and Yaroslava Shvedova, but their place was taken Irina Falconi and Petra Martic, who lost the match in straight sets.

The Williams sisters have won 13 Grand Slam doubles titles together.