Maria Sharapova’s hopes of repeating her 2008 Australian Open title ended on Sunday as the defending Grand Slam champion has decided to withdraw from the Australian Open.
The former world number one announced the news on Sunday that she will not compete in Melbourne next week.
“I am very very sad to report that I am just not ready to compete at the level required to win a Grand Slam,” Sharapova said.
“I have been working very hard over the past few weeks and my shoulder is doing great, but there is way more preparation and training needed to compete to win my fourth grand slam and I have just ran out of time. If they can move the Australian Open back another 3 weeks, I think I could be ready!”
Sharapova acknowledged that despite her sadness to miss a chance to defend her third major title, she was relieved just to be back on court after having surgery on her shoulder and a subsequent long recovery.
“I have very mixed feelings,” Sharapova added. “I am so disappointed and sad that I can’t defend my title from last year and at the same time, I am so excited to be back on the tennis court training.”
The 2009 Australian Open begins on January 19 in Melbourne, Australia.
[...] absent from the tournament is defending champion Maria Sharapova, who withdrew because of a lingering shoulder problem. China’s Na Li is also out of the event [...]
I will not miss Sharapova. Finally, I’ll be able to watch these matches without all the bloody mega-decibel grunting!
Whatever… I will miss you, Masha. I’m looking 4ward to your comeback!!!