World No.1 Victoria Azarenka has been forced to withdraw from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with a left ankle injury she sustained in Doha last week.

The Belarusian had suffered a fall in her semi-final against world No.6 Agnieszka Radwanska in the Qatari capital last Saturday and despite winning the title the following day, Azarenka admitted she wasn’t fully fit.

“Last week it was already hurt in the semi-final, and in the final I tried to do everything, you know, to be able to play.  It took a lot of sacrifice by taking a lot painkillers, but apparently didn’t get better,” said the 22-year-old. “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. Obviously very disappointing (to withdraw from Dubai).  But it’s life.  It’s sport. I just have to take care of it and that’s it.”

Azarenka says her physio, who travels with her full-time, has been telling her she needed to rest since the Australian Open. She explained she has a bone bruise which makes it painful to put pressure on her foot especially in the forward movement. She added: “My physio obviously wasn’t really positive after the (Doha) final   actually even before that about it  but we never tried to think too much ahead.

“Just taking it day by day and doing absolutely everything possible to be ready today. I tried to hit yesterday, and I mean, it’s just  it was really clear that, you know, it’s not really possible. But I still wanted to wait and maybe to get a chance, because I wanted to play until the last minute. But, you know, 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.”

A definite prognosis on when she could return is yet to be confirmed but she expects to go to Indian Wells next. “Obviously next one is Indian Wells.  I will try to take few days to just let it settle. Hopefully it’ll get better to rest, because obviously it’s needed,” she said. “As I said, I’m definitely going to try to do the ultrasound or scan just have to peace of mind.  Or if there is something that is worse, I have to take action. I just take it first two days, three days to let it settle.”

Azarenka joins fellow injured players world No.3 Petra Kvitova and world No.9 Li Na, who were also forced to miss the Dubai showpiece.

Meanwhile, Julia Goerges, who was scheduled to play Azarenka in the last-16 this evening at 7pm, will now play the top-seed’s replacement, lucky loser Australian Casey Dellacqua on Court 1 at the same time.