Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki has been forced to withdraw from the Brisbane International due to illness.

Confirming her exit on Wednesday, officials said seventh seeded German Lisicki, the world No.15, was suffering a gastrointestinal complaint.

Lisicki had been scheduled to take on Swiss player Stefanie Voegele in the second round on Wednesday and was on track to meet world No.2 Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals.

It is another blow to the women’s draw which lost Australian teenager Ashleigh Barty (adductor) on Tuesday night ahead of her second round showdown with four-time grand slam winner Maria Sharapova.