Azarenka withdraws from Rome's 2012 Tennis Tournament

World no. 1 Victoria Azarenka withdrew from Rome, Italy's 2012 Internazionali BNL d'Italia tennis tournament just moments after she ousted Israeli Shahar Peer in a late second round match. Azarenka was dominant in her 61 62 victory but in the WTA website, the following third round result was displayed: Singles - Third Round
(14) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. (1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) w/o (right shoulder injury). It is not indicated how Azarenka obtained the injury. No press releases are available, and a quick check on Azarenka's website didn't provide any additional information.

Fans in a tennis forum has raised the potential of Azarenka withdrawing because of her next match which was scheduled less than 24 hours after her late second round victory. Her match-up against Cibulkova was also scheduled to be played in COURT #2, an outside court and not in one of the three show courts at the Fora Italico. The withdrawal came as a surprise because Azarenka has been in fine form reaching the first two finals of her clay court events this year. She lost to world no. 2 Maria Sharapova in the finals of the Stuttgart tournament, and last Sunday, was beated by Serena Williams in the finals of Madrid.

Next on Azarenka's schedule is the French Open 2012 where she will be top-seeded at a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. The French Open starts in 10 days. Azarenka, had she reached the semi-finals of Rome, would have potentially met Serena and possibly Sharapova in the finals.