Strasbourg, France , 22 May 2019 | AAP / Tennis Australia

Australian No.1 Ash Barty withdrew from her first-round match against compatriot Daria Gavrilova at the Strasbourg International on Tuesday with an arm injury.

Barty said she had dealt with the right arm injury on and off since she was 16 years old, and with the French Open getting under way on Sunday, she opted to take a cautious approach.

“I felt that it was back. I tested myself, but this morning (Tuesday), I knew that I will not be able to play,” said the world No.8.

Due to a right arm injury, @ashbar96 will be unable to play at the #IS19 @wta_strasboug and has withdrawn from the tournament. We’re disappointed to make this unfortunate announcement, but we wish her a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/T2ibtSWkg5

— WTA Strasbourg (@WTA_Strasbourg) May 21, 2019

The top seed at the tournament, the Queenslander had been due to face fellow Aussie Daria Gavrilova in her opening match but has been replaced by Latvian lucky loser Diana Marcinkevica.

Sam Stosur is the other Australian in the Strasbourg draw and she takes on Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska on Wednesday.

Barty has been one of the form players of the year with 24 wins from 29 matches, including victory at the Miami Open and a runner’s up performance in Sydney to start the season.

But it has also been a heavy workload for the former Wimbledon junior champion who has continued to play doubles, and won the Rome title just last week with Victoria Azarenka.

In Nurnberg, Australian No.2 Ajla Tomljanovic led Germany’s Sabine Lisicki 6-2 1-2 when play was halted for the day.