Safina pulls out of Indian Wells with back injury

Moscow: World number two Dinara Safina has pulled out of next week`s Indian Wells tournament because of persistent problems with a back injury, the Russian said on Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, I will not be able to play in Indian Wells this year because of the back injury that`s been bothering me since the end of last season," Safina said on her official website. Safina has not played since retiring injured during her fourth-round match against compatriot Maria Kirilenko at the Australian Open in January. The 23-year-old said last month she was hoping to come back at the USD 4.5-million tournament in the United States but has now pushed her return date to the Sony Ericsson Open that starts in Miami on March 23.Bureau Report