The 27-year-old started the WTA Tour season with 11 straight wins, including the Brisbane title, but lost to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final.
In her bid for a third career title in Melbourne, Sabalenka led 3-0 in the decisive third set but lost six of the last seven games.
According to the WTA, Sabalenka won the Doha title on her debut in 2020, but has since suffered two wins and three losses in the tournament, including a first-round loss to Ekaterina Alexandrova last year.
With Sabalenka's withdrawal, Iga Swiatek will be the top seed at the first WTA 1000 tournament of the season.
