Top seed Azaranka pulls from injury-hit Dubai

By Bill Scott Feb 22, 2012, 11:38 GMT

Dubai - World number one Victoria Azarenka withdrew on Wednesday with a bruised bone in her ankle as the Dubai Championships lost both of its leading seeds in the space of three days.

Azarenka was scheduled to play German Julia Goerges in the second round after a first-round bye but said that she was not willing to risk the injury which she said had bothered her since her title at the Australian Open.

The top seed from Belarus said she hopes to be fit for the Indian Wells event in a fortnight.

'Last week (in Doha), it already hurt in the semi-final. In the final I tried to do everything to be able to play. It took a lot of sacrifice by taking a lot painkillers, but apparently didn't get better,' Azarenka said.

'I had to adjust my movement, compromise in other parts of my body which started it hurt, and it's just too much of a risk.

'I have a bone bruise, so every time I put pressure on it's just painful. It just has to get a rest and heal.'

On court, a pair of seed took the first quarter-final places.

Number five Agnieszka Radwanska beat Shahar Peer 7-5, 6-4 while eighth seed Jelena Jankovic of Sebia put out Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-2.

Azaranka's withdrawal extends a run of hard luck for the event, which lost second seed and Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova on Monday due to a virus.

Another Grand Slam winner, French Open champion Li Na of China, pulled out before the start, and so did Russian Vera Zvonareva, who did not finish her two previous tournaments due to a hip injury.

The field is now headed by third seed and defending champion Caroline Wozniacki, displaced from the WTA top ranking by Azarenka after the Australian Open.

Azaranka, who travels with a physiotherapist, said her team hoped the ankle would settle on its own after a few days of rest.

'I tried to hit yesterday, but it was clear that it as not possible. I still wanted to maybe to get a chance, I wanted to play until the last minute.

'But there comes the point that you just have to make up your mind. That was the best solution and the best decision for me today.'

Azaranka said she will try to get home to Minsk and spend time with her family to put tennis out of her mind after compiling a 17-0 record in 2012 with three titles.

'The health is the most important,' said Azarenka. 'Tennis is my life, but I mean, after tennis there is still hopefully a long life to live. I cannot jeopardise that.'

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