Dinara Safina of Russia, former World No. 1, has called it quits for the year because of chronic back pain.
“I’m sorry to report that my back is still acting up and I will not be able to play until at least the end of the year,” she said on her official website (www.dinarasafina.com).
The 25-year-old, who has not played since early May, will miss her third successive grand slam tournament – the US Open – after also pulling out of the French Open and Wimbledon.
Safina is currently ranked No. 65 in the world. She made it to three Grand Slam finals, but has never won a Grand Slam. She was ranked No. 1 for a short time in 2009.
