(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) World number one Serena Williams became the second big-name casualty to withdraw from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in as many days on Wednesday evening.
The 31-year-old American pulled out of her second-round match against French wildcard Marion Bartoli citing a lower back complaint just 24 hours after the number one seed here, Victoria Azarenka, called it quits with a right heel bone injury.
Williams' early exit is then another big blow to tournament organisers Dubai Duty Free, who had previously lost the Chinese world number five Li Na to a left ankle problem prior to the beginning of the competition.
"I've just had some back problems for the last couple of weeks," said the reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion, who made her withdrawal announcement just 20 minutes before her 7pm match with Bartoli.
"It didn't get better. I thought it would as the week went on, but it didn't. I don't want to keep pushing it and make it worse.
"I have been having treatment here as well as in Doha and just for the past two and a half weeks.
"It's getting better, but it's not at a level where I can compete where I feel comfortable to not make it worse.
"I've had little to no time to get it better, so I'm just working on actually getting it better. It will be a wise move."
Williams' next commitment on the WTA calendar is the Sony Open next month, although she is hopeful of returning to full fitness before that event.
"I figure not only by then, but hopefully sooner than that, so I can start getting a really good training programme going and get really fit and ready for some other tournaments this year," she added.
There was a glimmer of hope though for an expectant crowd in attendance at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, with Williams confirming she'll be returning in 12 months' time.
"Absolutely...100 per cent," she replied to on-court announcer Chris Brabnam when asked if she'll now be coming back to the emirate for the 2014 event.
Bartoli duly received a walkover to the quarter-finals, where she will meet the 2011 Dubai champion and eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, on Thursday night not before 7pm.
The three other last-eight singles ties are: Roberta Vinci (Italy) vs Samantha Stosur (Australia, 7), Nadia Petrova (Russia) vs Sorana Cirstea (Romania) or Sara Errani (Italy, 5) and Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic, 6) vs Agnieszka Radwanksa (Poland, 3).
By Alex Leach
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.