MOSCOW: World number two Dinara Safina has pulled out of next week's Sony Ericsson Open tournament because of persistent back injury, the Russian said Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, I will not be able to play in Miami this year because of the back injury that's been bothering me since the end of last season," she said on her official website (www.dinarasafina.com).

Safina will miss her third consecutive tournament since retiring injured during her fourth-round match against compatriot Maria Kirilenko at the Australian Open in January.

The 23-year-old said she was hoping to be back for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix to be held in Stuttgart from April 26.