Former world No1 Victoria Azarenka pulled out of the Wuhan Open in China and said she will miss the rest of the season as she battles a foot injury.

The Belarussian has slid down the rankings to 25th after a year in which she has struggled with a left foot injury that caused her to sit out the French Open.

“Unfortunately I will not be competing in any tournaments for the remainder of the season,” she said on her Facebook page. “It has been a very tough year for me.”

Meanwhile, Venus Williams crashed out of the Wuhan Open in the first round in a three-set defeat to French player Caroline Garcia. Garcia took the first set 6-4, only to suffer a 6-4 reverse in the second before clinching victory in a tie-break which finished 8/6.