(Reuters) – World number one Ash Barty has withdrawn from next week’s Qatar Open in Doha due to a left leg injury, organisers of the WTA 500 tournament said on Wednesday.
Barty’s decision comes after being knocked out of the Adelaide International on Wednesday, losing 6-3 6-4 to American Danielle Collins in the second round.
The 24-year-old Australian was struggling with a left thigh strain throughout the Australian Open, where she bowed out in the quarter-finals last week.
“Unfortunately I have withdrawn from the Qatar Total Open with a left leg injury,” Barty said.
“I wish the tournament a safe and successful event and hope to play there next year.
“Thank you to the event organisers and the WTA for all the work you are doing, I look forward to competing again in Miami in a few weeks time.”
Barty follows world number three Simona Halep and 2019 U.S. Open winner Bianca Andreescu in skipping the Doha event.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
