Former world number one Victoria Azarenka pulled out of the Wuhan Open in China on Sunday 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."
The two-time Australian Open champion said she had been "pushing and pushing" in a bid to recover, "but that does not appear to be the best approach for me".
The 25-year-old was a wildcard entry at the Wuhan Open, a $2.4 million premier-ranking WTA event.
Lucky loser Annika Beck of Germany has replaced her in the main draw.
Source: AFP
