Others seeds survive after Azaranka pulls from Dubai

By Bill Scott Feb 22, 2012, 16:04 GMT

Dubai - World number one Victoria Azarenka withdrew on Wednesday with a bruised bone in her ankle at the Dubai Championships but other seeds picked up the slack to post wins into the quarter-finals.

Azarenka was to have played 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, US Open champion Samantha Stosur, the number four, overcame a second-set lapse to put out Czech Lucie Safarova 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1. She will next face Jelena Jankovic of Sebia, a winner over Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-2.

Stosur was pleased to have made a late recovery.

'I served really well but in that second set I lost it, and I don't think I did really that much wrong,' she said. 'I wasn't able to take my opportunities, but then I did so early in the third.

'Against Jankovic, I will really have to step up and play aggressive and realize she's not going to make too many errors. I've got to take my chances when I see them and try to put some pressure on her serve.'

Number five Agnieszka Radwanska beat Shahar Peer 7-5, 6-4 while former number one Ana Ivanovic defeated Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) and Germany's Sabine Lisicki overcame Czech Iveta Benesova 6-3, 6-3.

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.

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,' she said.

'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.'

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