SYDNEY, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Former world number one Venus Williams has pulled out of next week's Australian Open with a wrist injury.

An Australian Open official told Reuters on Wednesday that Williams had withdrawn from the first grand slam of 2007 because of a left wrist injury.

Williams, 26, reached the final of the Australian Open in 2003, losing to younger sister Serena, but has not made it past the fourth round at Melbourne Park since.

Williams, currently ranked 48 in the world, joins world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne among the absentees from this year's event, starting on Jan. 15.