Australian Open champion Madison Keys has pulled out of a third successive tournament.

The world No. 7 has yet to compete since lifting her maiden Grand Slam title. She initially pulled out of the upcoming Qatar Open with an injury and is now set to skip the Dubai Championships.

Keys was also forced to skip the Austin Open after re-entering the world’s top 10 due to an odd WTA rule that limits just one top-10 player from competing in a 250 event.

The American went on an incredible run in Melbourne to win a long-awaited Major title. Keys beat Danielle Collins, Elina Svitolina, Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka to be crowned the Australian Open champion last month.

But Keys’ schedule is now up in the air, as she has withdrawn from a third tournament in a row. The 29-year-old had already pulled out of next week’s WTA 1000 in Doha with a hamstring injury.

Karolina Muchova and Marie Bouzkova also pulled out of the Doha tournament.

And Keys has now announced her withdrawal from the WTA 1000 in Dubai, taking place the following week. On Thursday, tournament organisers confirmed Keys was no longer playing due to a lingering leg injury.

As for Keys, the tour’s newest Grand Slam champion will not be seen on a match court in February. On top of her injury withdrawals from Doha and Dubai, she was also stopped from competing in the ATX Open in Austin.

The WTA Tour has a rule allowing just one top-10 player to compete in each WTA 250 event. Jessica Pegula, the world No. 6, was meant to be the sole top player in Austin.

Keys had signed up to the tournament when she was ranked just outside of the world’s top 20. But, thanks to her efforts Down Under, she has since risen to No. 7.

It means she is no longer eligible to compete in the ATX Open and left the tournament in an awkward spot when they had to announce her withdrawal.

In a statement, organisers said: “As a 250-level tournament, the ATX Open is permitted to feature just one Top 10 player unless the defending champion returns as a Top 10 ranked player.

“Only in that circumstance could two Top 10 players compete in our tournament. This helps to ensure balanced competition across all WTA events held during the same week.

“With World No. 6 Jessica Pegula already committed to the event, WTA rules prevent us from having a second Top 10 player in the draw. When we entered an agreement with Madison, her ranking was World No. 21.

“Now with her title wins in both Adelaide and Melbourne, her ranking has moved to World No. 7. As a result of her new ranking, Madison will, unfortunately, not be able to compete in this year’s ATX Open.”

Keys is expected to be back in action for the ‘sunshine double’ - the two WTA 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami.