World womens tennis number two Dinara Safina has pulled out of next week's Indian Wells tournament in California because of persistent problems with a back injury.
Safina has not played since retiring injured during her fourth-round match against compatriot Maria Kirilenko at the Australian Open in January.
The 23-year-old said last month she was hoping to come back at the 6-million dollar tournament in the United States but has now pushed her return date to the Sony Ericsson Open that starts in Miami on March 23rd.
