Azarenka withdraws at Sony with ankle injury

(AP) Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from the Sony Open because of a right ankle injury.

The third-ranked Belarusian pulled out shortly before her opening match Friday and was replaced by lucky loser Lauren Davis of the United States.

The same injury forced Azarenka to withdraw before her quarterfinal match a week ago at Indian Wells, when she complained of inflammation and tendinitis. She says she worked hard in recent days to rehabilitate the injury, but it didn't heal sufficiently to play at Key Biscayne.

Azarenka won the tournament in 2009 and 2011.