SYDNEY – Reigning Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from this year’s event because of a slower than expected recovery from a shoulder injury.
The Russian said she was making steady progress but was not fit enough to compete at the tournament, which starts on Jan. 19.
‘I am very sorry to announce that I am not going to be able to defend my title at this year’s Australian Open,’ the world number nine said in a statement.
‘My shoulder is doing great but I just started training a few weeks ago and I am just not near the level I need to be to compete at the highest levels.’
Sharapova won her first Australian Open title last year when she beat Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic in the final at Melbourne Park but has not played since August.
The 21-year-old won her first 18 matches in 2008 to briefly reclaim the number one ranking before injury struck at Montreal, forcing her to withdraw from last year’s Beijing Olympics and the US Open.
– Nampa-AFP
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