KUALA LUMPUR: Top seed and defending champion Elina Svitolina withdrew from the Malaysian Open with a lower leg injury on Wednesday, bringing her 13-match winning streak to a halt.
The Ukrainian world number 10, who beat Caroline Wozniacki in Dubai last week to lift her second straight trophy, pulled out before her second-round match against Japan's Nao Hibino.
Svitolina, 22, had needed treatment during her 6-2, 6-3 first-round win over Jang Su-Jeong of South Korea -- her 250th victory on the WTA tour.
"I was looking forward to coming back to Kuala Lumpur to defend my title and I was excited to play here but, unfortunately, I have to withdraw because of a lower leg injury," she said, according to the WTA website.
"I was struggling in my final match in Dubai and I was hoping to recover but... I need to make sure I take care of my body for the rest of the season."
Svitolina's unbeaten streak, which has pushed her into the top 10 for the first time, also included a run to the Taiwan Open title and two Fed Cup wins against Australian opposition.
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