Safina sidelined by back pain

MOSCOW, May 12 (UPI) -- Russian player Dinara Safina, once ranked No. 1, says she is taking an indefinite break from tennis to recover from chronic back pain.

"I don't know how long the break will be," she said. "I don't want to torture myself and my body any longer. I want to take as much time to recover, so I don't have any regrets at the end of my career."

Safina, 25, will miss the French Open, where she finished second in 2008 and 2009.

Her back problems pushed her out of the Top 20 last year and she is now ranked No. 68.

Safina has won 12 WTA singles titles and is a three-time Grand Slam runner-up. She won an Olympic silver medal in 2008.