Safina Backs Out Of Dubai

(February 8, 2010) Dinara Safina's ongoing back pain will prevent her from visiting the desert.

Safina has withdrawn from next week's Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships in Dubai due to a lingering back injury. The second-ranked Russian retired from her Australian Open round of 16 match against compatriot Maria Kirilenko while trailing 5-4 in the first set due to the lower back injury that has bothered her since last season.

"Unfortunately, I will not be able to play this year because of the back injury that's been bothering me since the end of last season," Safina said in a post on her official website.

Safina, who has been limited to six matches this season, said she hopes to return to tournament tennis at Indian Wells, starting on March 10.

Safina was upset by Virginie Razzano in the second round of the 2009 Dubai tournament. Razzano went on to reach the final before losing to Venus Williams.

After her fourth-round departure from the Australian Open, Safina said the back pain was so bad it limited her mobility.

"I didn’t think this could happen. I did an MRI before I came here. I don’t know what happened. It’s shocking," said Safina. "It’s exactly the same injury as in Doha. Exactly the same. I cannot move anywhere. Whenever I try to move, it hurts terribly."

Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

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Safina Backs Out Of Dubai

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