Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has pulled out of the US Open due to a right shoulder injury.
David Brewer, the US Open tournament director has confirmed the news and in a statement said: “Maria has informed us that she will be unable to compete at the U.S. Open this year due to a right shoulder bursitis and has withdrawn from the tournament.
Maria Sharapova has been troubled with the injury right since the French Open in May. Shoulder bursitis injuries can be long drawn out affairs and generally require months of rehabilitation for correction.
Sharapova is reportedly deeply disappointed and released a statement on her official website to this effect: “I just wanted to let you know that withdrawing from the US Open has been a really tough decision to make. I have done everything I could since Wimbledon to get myself ready, but it just wasn’t enough time. I have done many tests, received several opinions and it all comes down to taking the proper amount of time to heal my shoulder injury properly.
“It’s certainly not an easy decision to make ahead of one of my favourite tournaments, but I know it’s the right one that will get me back on the courts soon. I plan on taking the next few weeks off, receiving proper treatment and rehabilitation. I will miss being part of the US Open, but can’t wait for next year!”
Sharapova had been in the news for wanting to change her name to Sugarpova for the duration of the US Open, in a bid to promote her candy brand. She had also attended a promotional event in Manhattan for the cause, but it appears as though those plans have been put on hold.
She had last missed the US Open in 2008, due to similar problems with her shoulder, for which she had undergone surgery at that point.