Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka has withdrawn from the Italian Open citing a right shoulder injury. Tournament organisers say Azarenka made the decision after routing Israeli Shahar Peer 6-1 6-2 in the second round on Wednesday night. Azarenka has won four titles this year, including the Australian Open. She lost the Madrid Open final to Serena Williams on Sunday. Her withdrawal means her scheduled opponent Thursday, 14th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova, advances to the quarter-finals. This tournament is the last major warm-up for the French Open, which begins on May 27.
