Lucie Safarova announced her withdrawal from the 2016 Australian Open, saying that she is still suffering issues linked to the bacterial infection that sidelined her season last September.

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"The treatment of my bacterial infection has become complicated in recent days," said Safarova, who reached the Roland Garros final last year, also claimed two Grand Slam doubles titles, including the Aussie Open. The Czech, 28, also claimed a spot in the WTA’s top 10 in singles for the first time in her career.

Safarova was hospitalized for a spell after last year’s U.S. Open but returned to the tour to play three events, including the prestigious WTA Finals, where she went 1-2 in round robin play in singles and doubles.

"I couldn't do the training that would allow me to fly to the tournaments in Australia well prepared. That's why I have decided to pull out, not to burden the organism by travelling, and focus on treatment and gradual convalescence,” Safarova told the AFP through her spokesman Karel Tejkal. "My joints still hurt and so I can't prepare the way I and my coach would like. The bio-chemical checks are not 100 per cent either."