ZCZC
BSP-24
TENNIS-WTA-RUS-SHARAPOVA
Shoulder pain forces Sharapova out of St Petersburg
SAINT PETERSBURG, Jan 30, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Maria Sharapova’s ongoing right
shoulder problems led her to pull out of the Saint Petersburg tournament, the
organisers said on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old has been struggling back to elite fitness since watching
from the sidelines during a 15-month doping ban ended in 2017.
The five-time major winner beat Daria Gavrilova of Australia 6-0, 6-4 in
her debut in the tournament, but suffered with her shoulder injury
afterwards.
“I have worked hard for months to put it (her shoulder) in order, but to no
avail,” she said after her match with Gavrilova.
“I still have plenty of work to do.”
Sharapova’s withdrawal opened the way into the last eight for third-seeded
Daria Kasaatkina, who enjoyed an opening round bye.
The former world number one Sharapova failed to reach the Australian Open
quarter-finals earlier in January, but claimed she still believes she can
increase her tally of five Slam titles.
BSS/AFP/RY/20:01 hrs