Azarenka’s withdrawal continues WTA injury bug

(Getty Images)

World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka withdrew from the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday, joining three other seeded players in an early injury exit from the tournament. It's the latest in a rash of ailments that have plagued the start to the 2012 WTA season.

Here's a list of top WTA players who have withdrawn from a tournament so far this year (with current rankings in parenthesis):

• Victoria Azarenka, Brisbane and Dubai (1)

• Maria Sharapova, Brisbane (2)

• Petra Kvitova, Dubai (3)

• Marion Bartoli, Doha (7)

• Vera Zvonareva, Doha and Dubai (8)

• Li Na, Paris, Dubai (9)

• Andrea Petkovic, Australian Open (10)

• Serena Williams, Brisbane, Monterrey (11)

• Sabine Lisicki, Auckland, Paris (13)

• Jelena Jankovic, Paris (14)

• Dominika Cibulkova, Dubai (16)

• Julie Goerges, Sydney (19)

• Kim Clijsters, Indian Wells (35)

Twelve of the top 20 have retired early from a match or withdrawn from a tournament. Throw in Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams (both ranked outside the top 30) and 13 of the top 18 women in the world have dealt with some kind of injury or illness this season. The fortunate five who haven't: Caroline Wozniacki, Sam Stosur, Agnieszka Radwanska, Francesca Schiavone and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.