Czech Lucie Safarova has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to a bacterial infection.
The 28-year-old was hospitalised in September due to the infection and has been unable to regain full health in time for the first Grand Slam of the year.
"The treatment of my bacterial infection has become complicated in recent days," Safarova said via a spokesman.
"I couldn't do the training that would allow me to fly to the tournaments in Australia well prepared.
"That's why I have decided to pull out, not to burden the organism by travelling, and focus on treatment and gradual convalescence.
"My joints still hurt and so I can't prepare the way I and my coach would like."
"The bio-chemical checks are not a hundred percent either.
Safarova won the 2015 Australian Open doubles title with American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
