Serena pulls out of Dubai, focuses on Miami

Dubai, Feb 20 (AFP) Serena Williams has pulled out of the $2,000,000 Dubai Open, partly to consolidate her remarkable return to world number one two days ago by focusing on her home tournament, in Miami, in the second half of next month. "I am just not well - it's my back," Serena explained. "All athletes really get this. I really can't move. It would be a horrible performance for you guys. It's just really sad for all of us. I hope to continue here, but unfortunately it won't be this year." Wednesday's belated and unexpected withdrawal follows that of Victoria Azarenka two days ago, which ensured that Williams would hang on to the top spot at least until the end of the Miami event on March 31st. Azarenka, who beat Serena to defend her Qatar Open title last Sunday, cited a bruised heel as her reason for pulling out. Williams competed last week with back and ankle injuries and a bad cold, but said Tuesday that she felt "so much better already," before revealing she would not be appearing. The 15 times Grand Slam winner also made it clear that having regained the pinnacle after two-and-a-half years during which her life and career were threatened following a freak 2010 foot injury which resulted in a pulmonary embolism it is no longer her main goal. "OK, I have done it, let's focus on my next goals which are the Grand Slams. I really want to continue doing really well in those," Williams said, admitting that she already had at least half an eye on the French Open in Paris, starting on May 26th. These absences are a hammer blow to a popular tournament which had already been without the sport's two highest earners, Maria Sharapova and Li Na (according to Forbes magazine), and is now without any of the sport's marquee names. (AFP) AT AT 02202237 NNNN