Australian Open - Sharapova out of Australian Open

Eurosport - Mon, 12 Jan 16:30:00 2009

Reigning Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from this year's event because of a slower than expected recovery from a shoulder injury.

TENNIS Maria Sharapova Russia - 0

The Russian said she was making steady progress but was not fit enough to compete at the tournament, which starts on January 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.

"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.

"The Australian Open is one of my favourite tournaments: they have the best fans in the world and I am going to miss everything about the tournament," Sharapova said.

"I promise I will see everyone next year."

Australian Open officials, who announced on Saturday they were lifting prize money to record levels this year, said they were disappointed for Sharapova.

"I know she has been working around the clock to try and get back from the shoulder injury. In the end, time beat her this year," tournament Director Craig Tiley said.

"We wish her well with her return to tennis and look forward to seeing her back in Melbourne next year."

Sharapova is the first major casualty for this year's Australian Open but the fifth champion in the last eight years not to defend their singles title.

Andre Agassi (2001 winner), Serena Williams (2003), Justine Henin-Hardenne (2004) and Marat Safin (2005) also missed the first Grand Slam of the year because of injury.

Players have long been demanding the Australian Open, which is traditionally held in the last two weeks of January, be moved back to March to allow them to play in cooler conditions and enable them to take a longer break between seasons.

Tennis Australia officials did agree to push the 2007 tournament back one week but later scrapped the plan and reverted to the original dates.

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Reuters

Comment 3 - 22 of 42

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  1. Sharapova about sums up the danger of burn out of players making debut at a very young age. She is not the first one but so many others were there who vanished like shooting stars. Parental monetary greed to a large extent needs to be curbed.

    From Emmveeyem, on Sun 11 Jan 5:42PM

  2. Nooo not maria my pretty baby. well i guess i'm only watching the mens tournament this year.

    From football4life, on Sun 11 Jan 4:14PM

  3. she is fit

    From gangsta.manager, on Sun 11 Jan 3:35PM

  4. poor Maria !!!!!
    i beleva she will return soon and she will be nbr one again she is the best!!
    I LOVE YOU MARIA!!!

    From Andreas, on Sun 11 Jan 2:53PM

  5. get well sun Maria !

    From Igor K, on Sun 11 Jan 2:02PM

  6. No, no typo after all, just Yahoo's censorship programme going insane. LOL

    From Bobito, on Sun 11 Jan 1:53PM

  7. I had to laugh when I saw my last post come up. I meant to type "a little @#$% Sharapova". But I forgot to hit the space bar between "hard" and "on", hence the the cesorship. Honestly, it was just a typo, not a Freudian slip.

    From Bobito, on Sun 11 Jan 1:47PM

  8. Suman, I think you are being a little @#$% Masha. Nobody works harder at their game than she does and I don't believe she has ever, for one second, put modeling above tennis. An injured shoulder doesn't stop you from standing in front of a camera and smiling but it sure as hell makes serving atennis ball at 120mph difficult.

    As a fan of Justine Henin I have tremendous respect for Sharapova. She gave Justine more trouble than any other player and their WTA final in 2007 was one of the greatest women's matches of all time.

    Get well soon Masha, the game needs you and the fans miss you.

    From Bobito, on Sun 11 Jan 1:38PM

  9. Indeed Merritt686!

    Richard Gasquet has one of the most beautiful backhands on the ATP tour.But us french people expect maybe too much from him.But on a given day,he's capable of beating anybody.

    From Jeremy, on Sun 11 Jan 1:25PM

  10. I'm so dissapointed. I've been waiting to see maria sharapova play but unfortunately, she will not. She's always d' hottest player in Melbourne but now she's out... I hope she will change her mind... Get well sOOn maria. Tennis needs you.!

    From joseph_bebz, on Sun 11 Jan 12:46PM

  11. Oh Oh Oh --- disaster of disasters -- Worlds most beautiful tennis player
    unable to defend her title .. ! Won without losing a set in 2008-- a great loss to TV Australia & all fans

    GOOD LUCK BEST WISHES FOR A FULL RECOVERY SOON _____ SOON ---- ** SOON LOVE

    From fototedlondona4, on Sun 11 Jan 12:39PM

  12. Bad news is that! It takes some fun out of the game! Sharapova is one of the fighter that brings a lot to the world of women tennis! I am not a fan of her because she talks a lot, not really humble, but I always wish her luck and that she is feet to be beaten by...... guess who? of course you know the Williamses;-)

    From Durandinho, on Sun 11 Jan 12:29PM

  13. YES I LOVE GOLOVIN BUT SHE ALWAYS OUT INJURED SUCH A SHAME FOR HER.
    ALISON.

    From AJ, on Sun 11 Jan 12:04PM

  14. What do you think of the frenchwoman TATIANA GOLOVIN....?

    From Jeremy, on Sun 11 Jan 11:50AM

  15. She's the hottest woman in tennis and maybe the best. australian open will be boring without her

    From martin.mitevski26, on Sun 11 Jan 11:45AM

  16. iam fan of maria sharapova.but iam really upset with her injury.i do not understand whats happening with her.she always active in modeelling when it comes to tennis says injury.i guess she is concentrating more in modelling than tennis.i want to see her no1 in tennis not in modelling.iam very upest.she should learn how to work hard from federer .

    From anu, on Sun 11 Jan 11:41AM

  17. SO SAD TO SEE MARIA UNABLE TO DEFEND HER TITLE IN AUSTRALIA WAS SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HER RETURN TO THE WTA TOUR.I LOVE HER FIGHTING SPIRIT GET WELL SOON MARIA.
    DON'T THINK JJ OR ANA WILL MAKE IT TO THE FINALS THIS YEAR BUT WILLIAMS SISTERS WILL I THINK.
    ALISON.

    From AJ, on Sun 11 Jan 11:36AM

  18. what a shame. Serbia wishes her a speedy recovery and hope to see her back soon.

    From aleksicn93, on Sun 11 Jan 11:13AM

  19. Aww, @#$%!(

    From TT, on Sun 11 Jan 10:02AM

  20. can i rub it better?

    From Bromley Blue, on Sun 11 Jan 10:02AM
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