Victoria Azarenka (BLR) hits a backhand against Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
Aug 8, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Victoria Azarenka (BLR) hits a backhand against Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) on day five of the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Uniprix Stadium. Reuters

Victoria Azarenka won’t have a chance to defend her Cincinnati Masters title after withdrawing from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournament in Mason, Ohio due to an injury to her right knee.

"I started to feel a little bit better and did everything I could, but it's just not enough time for me to feel good to play a full match," said Azarenka, who lost in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Rogers Cup where she aggravated the knee injury. "I'm going to get more treatment and get more work done and should be good for the U.S. Open."

She also announced the development on Twitter saying that it was the best possible decision for her career.

Unfortunately I won’t be playing in Cincinnati this year. But I had to make the best decision for me. I will definitely be back next year

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) August 12, 2014

The 25-year-old Belarusian won the Cincy event, which is also known as the Western & Southern Open, in 2013 when she beat American Serena Williams in three sets, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6).

Azarenka was replaced by German Mona Barthel, who is ranked 44th in the world.

It has been a frustrating WTA season for Azarenka, who has yet to win a title in 2013. The farthest she got was a quarterfinals appearance in Montreal, Canada and in the same round at the 2014 Australian Open. She has a record of 10 wins against 7 losses in 17 matches this year.

But while Azarenka will miss the action in Cincinnati, she still hopes to be ready to play in New York for the 2014 US Open, which is scheduled from August 25 to Sept 8, 2014.