Safina withdraws from Dubai Open

Moscow: World number two Dinara Safina has pulled out of next week's Dubai tennis championships because of continuing problems with a back injury, the Russian said on Monday.

"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 on her official website (www.dinarasafina.com).

Safina has not played since retiring injured during her fourth-round match against compatriot Maria Kirilenko at the Australian Open last month.