• Wimbledon

Injured Safina out of Wimbledon

ESPN staff
June 21, 2010
Dinara Safina has dropped down the rankings after an injury-plagued 2010 season © Getty Images
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Dinara Safina has withdrawn from Wimbledon with a recurrence of her back injury.

The Russian was out of action for three months after retiring from her fourth-round match against Maria Kirilenko at the Australian Open in January but after making her comeback in April, has failed to find her form, suffering five defeats in six matches.

The three-time Grand Slam finalist ended the year ranked as world No. 2, but has slipped out of the world top 20 after an injury-plagued start to the 2010 season.

The 24-year-old revealed the news on her Twitter page: "Sorry to tell you but I had to pull out today...my back injury came back and I can't play...I tried but I can't," she said. "It was really not easy for me to take this decision but was no more choice because I couldn't handle the pain anymore."

Safina, who was seeded 20th in the draw, has returned to Russia for a break, and will be replaced by Melanie Oudin who will be seeded 33, while Canada's Stephanie Dubois has been granted a place in the main draw.

Meanwhile, No. 22 seed Jose Maria Martinez Sanchez has pulled out with a knee problem, which means Kateryna Bondarenko will be seeded 34th.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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