MARTINA Hingis has withdrawn from next year's Australian Open because of a persistent ankle injury,

Switzerland's Hingis, 22, won the last of her five Grand Slam titles at the 1999 Australian Open.

She underwent ankle surgery in May this year and missed the French Open and Wimbledon.

The former US Open and Wimbledon champion was scheduled to make her comeback at the January 13-26 Grand Slam event in Melbourne.