MELBOURNE, Australia - Venus Williams prefers to not say why she and her sister Serena pulled out of the doubles competition at the Australian Open.
''According to the rules you don't have to give a reason. I think we'll stick with that,'' Venus said Thursday after winning her second-round singles match.
The Williams sisters have won 13 Grand Slam doubles titles together, including four at the Australian Open. They were scheduled to play their first-round match Wednesday but withdrew before it started without explaining why.
The mystery continued Thursday, with Venus saying she was allowed to be coy, prompting a string of questions.
Was it the heat?
''It was warm,'' the 34-year-old American said. ''I don' think it was as warm as it could have been. But, no, that wasn't it.''
Was there a medical reason? Were doctors consulted?
''No further questions on that,'' Venus said. ''I object. Sustained. Thank you.''
