The Tunisian has struggled with an injury since the start of the year and at the Australian Open was seen with strapping on her left knee.
World number three Ons Jabeur has pulled out of the upcoming tournaments in Doha and Dubai later this month after opting to have minor surgery.
After struggling with an injury during last month's Australian Open Jabeur said she wanted to "take care" of her "health situation."
"My medical team have decided that I need to get a minor surgery in order to be able to be back on the courts and perform well," Jabeur said on Instagram.
She did not give any detail about the operation but after her Round 2 loss in Melbourne to Czech World No. 86 Marketa Vondrousova cameras captured a shattered Jabeur slumped on the floor of the players' tunnel. During both her matches at the first Slam of the year she wore heavy strapping on her left knee.
Jabeur, who missed last year's Australian Open with a back injury, was a shadow of the player who won Madrid and Berlin trophies last year, as well as making the finals of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, in a breakout season which propelled her to second in the rankings.
"I will have to retire (pull out) from Doha and Dubai and this is breaking my heart. I would like to say sorry to all the fans out there in the Middle East that waited for this reunion. I promise I will come back to you stronger and healthy."
The Qatar Open is scheduled to take place from February 13-18 with the Dubai Duty Free Championships taking place the week after.
Who will end year end WTA no.1?
Iga Swiatek
Aryna Sabalenka
Ons Jabeur
Jessica Pegula
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