Victoria Azarenka Withdraws From Dubai; Ankle Injuries All The Rage On The WTA

Add Victoria Azarenka’s name to a growing list of WTA stars nursing ankle injuries. Not even a month into the 2012 tennis season, already four of the biggest names in women’s tennis have been forced to miss time and tournaments because of their ankle.

Maria Sharapova skipped the Australian run-up due to a turn last fall. Serena Williams rolled her left ankle at Brisbane, an injury she re-aggravated last week which pulled her out of Monterrey.

Kim Clijsters suffered a sprain during her Australian Open match with Li Na. That injury has kept her off the circuit since Australia and will prevent her from playing Indian Wells.

And now World No. 1 Azarenka is out of Dubai after turning her ankle in the Doha semifinals. Azarenka was able to finish her semifinal and then win the title on Sunday, but will rest the injury this week.

“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,” Azarenka said.

“Just taking it day by day and doing absolutely everything possible to be ready today,” she added. “I tried to hit yesterday, and I mean, it’s just it was really clear that it’s not really possible. 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.”

Li Na, Vera Zvonareva and Petra Kvitova also withdrew from Dubai.

You Might Like:
For The Second Straight Year Victoria Azarenka Withdraws From Dubai
Let Victoria Azarenka Give You A Tour Of The Dubai Tennis Stadium [Video]
Victoria Azarenka Withdraws From Washington
Victoria Azarenka Has Withdrawn From Doha
Former Champion Simona Halep Withdraws From Indian Wells Due To Foot