Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the upcoming Doha Open due to an ongoing left forearm injury.
The Russian has already experienced issues with her forearm this year. At the start of 2016, the Russian withdrew from the Brisbane International due to a sore forearm. Due to the issue, the world No.6 said during the Australian Open that she wouldn’t play in the Fed Cup. According to a Russian source last week, Sharapova traveled to Germany this week to undergo further treatment on her injury. The 28-year-old made a brief statement about her withdrawal from Doha.
“Unfortunately, I will not be able to play the Qatar Total Open because of my left forearm injury. I would like to wish the tournament and all the great fans in Doha a great week of tennis and I hope to see them next year.” Sharapova said.
The injury has troubled Sharapova during the later part of 2015. After being sidelined from the tour due to a leg injury, Sharapova retired during her comeback match at the Wuhan Open due to the same injury.
Sharapova is a two-time winner of the tournament, formally known as the Qatar Ladies Open. The 28-year-old last won the tournament back in 2008 after defeating Vera Zvonareva in the final. Despite Sharapova’s absence, the WTA Premier 5 tournament will still have a star-studded entry list with the five highest ranked players in the world participating. The defending champion for the tournament is Lucie Safarova.
In other developments concerning Sharapova, the head of Russian tennis, Shamil Tarpischev, has confirmed that the world No.6 will not be participating in Russia’s Fed Cup playoff against Belarus.
“Sharapova will definitely not play,” Tarpischev told R-Sport.ru.
“She will be busy with tournaments in the US.”
Sharapova is currently bidding to gain a place in the Russian Olympic tennis team. The world No.6 is eligible for the Olympics due to a technicality. Despite not playing in Russia’s tie against the Netherlands, she still counts as part of the current Russian team.
