Ashleigh Barty withdraws from Doha with a left leg injury

The WTA 500 Qatar Open organizers have suffered another blow on Wednesday, with world no. 1 Ashleigh Barty withdrawing due to a left leg injury.

After Simona Halep, Sofia Kenin and Bianca Andreescu, the Aussie is the fourth player from the top-8 seeds that decided to skip Doha. Barty lost the quarter-final clash at the Adelaide International to Danielle Collins and will take some time off the court before she returns to action.

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The 24-year-old Australian struggled with a left thigh strain throughout the Australian Open, suffering the quarter-final loss to Karolina Muchova and giving her best to defend the Adelaide crown won a year ago.

"I made one first serve in that game and gave Danielle a look back into the match. It's just disappointing, I think, to have two sets in a row where I went on a run of losing games. Unfortunately, I have withdrawn from the Qatar Total Open with a left leg injury.

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I wish the tournament a safe and successful event and hope to play there next year. Thank you to the event organizers and the WTA for all the work you are doing; I look forward to competing again in Miami in a few weeks," Ashleigh Barty said.