US Open 2015 – 2006 Champion Maria Sharapova (3) has pulled out of the 2015 US Open on Sunday before the start of the tournament. Sharapova who has not played a competitive match since her semifinal match against Serena Williams at Wimbledon earlier this year. The Russian cited the nagging leg injury which saw her pull out of all the summer hardcourt tournaments she was slated to play.
Earlier at the event, Sharapova told the media that she felt she could play, “I’ve done everything I could to be ready. There’s nothing more that I could have done, so yeah, I hope to be ready.” However, there were signs in the press conference this withdrawal was inevitable as Sharapova never stated that she was 100% healthy: I’m feeling better, just a time thing. Dealing with these nagging things. It’s almost like a day to day process.
On her personal website, after her withdrawal, Sharapova posted a piece entitled, Something I wrote in the car after practice today in which she wrote, “I am not only finished with practice, but my 2015 US Open is finished without any beginning”. It’s my little secret but I don’t want to let anyone down … New York City, this wasn’t my year but I will be back!”
Sharapova was slated to play Daria Gavrilova who had a win against her in Miami earlier this year. Sharapova avenged that loss in Rome. There would be no reshuffling of the draw and so Sharapova is being replaced by Lucky Loser Daria Kasatkina of Russia.
