Lucie Safrova withdraws from Australian Open

Lucie Safarova, of the Czech Republic. (Fred Beckham/AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia — The WTA Tour says French Open finalist Lucie Safarova has withdrawn from the Australian Open because of the lingering effects of a bacterial infection she picked up last year.

Safarova also tweeted: "As an athlete I’m used to fight on court to win. Today it’s off court to get my health back…"

The No. 9-ranked Safarova’s best Australian Open singles performance was the quarterfinals in 2007. She won the doubles title at Melbourne Park last year with American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

The 28-year-old Czech player lost in the first round at Melbourne Park last year but followed up with a run to the final at the subsequent major in Paris, her best ever performance at a Grand Slam tournament.

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