Maria Sharapova pulls out of Brisbane International – Tennis News
Disappointing news for the tennis fans, as the former world number one, Maria Sharapova of Russia, has announced her withdrawal from the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) season’s first tournament, the Brisbane International. The
world number four has been stung with an ankle injury three month ago and has not fully recovered until now, forcing her to pull out of the $220,000 WTA event, starting from 1st of January 2012.
Sharapova had a successful 2011 WTA season, claiming the fourth spot in the women’s ranking by the end of it. She twisted her ankle in the quarter-final clash against the current world number two, Petra Kvitova, at the Pan Pacific
Championships in Tokyo and was compelled to retire in the eighth game of the match. Her injury kept her aloof from the China Open and took its toll out of the Russian in her campaign at the season ending finale, the WTA Championships in Istanbul.
The world number four was to take off her 2012 WTA voyage from the outdoor hard courts of Brisbane in Australia but she cited on Friday that she is in no position to be a part of the professional circuit at the present. Sharapova
explained that her focus is the upcoming Grand Slam event in Melbourne, the Australian Open, beginning from 16th of next month, and she does not will to put her physical fitness in jeopardy by making an early comeback.
“I do expect to be ready for the year's first grand slam and I am really looking forward to competing on court,” expressed Sharapova while revealing her withdrawal from the Brisbane tournament.
The Russian was to make her debut at the Brisbane International and a lot was expected from her. Sharapova was seeded at number one in the tournament, followed by the home favourite, Samantha Stosur, Andrea Petkovic, Francesca
Schiavone and five-time Australian Open champion, Serena Williams, in the competitive field.
The 24-year-old Russian finished off the 2011 WTA season with a 43-14 winning record and two championship titles in her bag. She missed out the golden opportunity of clinching her fourth Grand Slam title, losing in the final of
the Wimbledon Championships this summer. Sharapova was blown away by the Czech number one, Petra Kvitova, in straight sets in the final of the mega event in London but still managed to climb up the rankings to finish at the fourth spot by the year end.
It appears a wise decision for Sharapova to delay her comeback to the WTA Tour and get fully fit before stepping on the courts of Melbourne.
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