Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the US Open with a shoulder injury. The 2006 champion confirmed the news on her official website: “Maria is unable to compete at the US Open in New York this year due to right shoulder bursitis,” a short statement said.
Sharapova was seeded third for the tournament, matching her current world ranking, despite having played just one match – a loss to Sloane Stephens in the opening round of the Cincinnati Open last week – since Wimbledon due to a hip injury. After that match, Sharapova split from coach Jimmy Connors, who had only taken over from Thomas Hogstedt in July.
The draw for the US Open takes place later on Thursday, with the first round starting on Monday.
Organisers said that Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova would now be seeded 32nd. A statement from US Open tournament director David Brewer said: “Maria has informed us that she will be unable to compete at the US Open this year due to a right shoulder bursitis and has withdrawn from the tournament. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to her return to New York next year.”
Sharapova has suffered with shoulder injuries in the past, missing nine months after surgery in 2008. Prior to that surgery she had won Wimbledon in 2004, the US Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008. She won a fourth Grand Slam tournament with victory at the French Open last year.
