Tennis great Maria Sharapova recently announced her withdrawal from the US Open via social media just a day before the tournament starts Monday, August 31st.
Citing a right leg injury as the reason behind her being unable to play, Sharapova has since pulled twice in the US Open twice for this year alone already, according to an article on sports.yahoo.com. Almost at the same time, the U.S. Tennis Association also confirmed the tennis star's inability to participate through a press release as Sharapova posted the news on her Facebook page. She emerged as the U.S. Open's winner which was held on 2006.
Also in the same article, Sharapova was quoted as saying "Unfortunately I will not be able to compete in this (year's U.S.) Open. I have done everything possible to be ready but it was just not enough time..To all my amazing fans, I will be back in the Asian swing in a few weeks and look forward to finishing the year healthy and strong." The tennis star also reportedly missed out on the Grand Slam Tournament held in Flushing Meadows last 2008, as well as that of the U.S. Open two years ago, also due to sports-related injuries on both accounts.
In another article on bbc.com, Maria Sharapova, the 5-time Grand Slam title holder also has not played since the Wimbledon. She was due to par with Daria Gavrilova, ranked world's #37 who hails from Australia. Daria Kasatkina, who ranked world's #133 and fellow Russian, will be playing in Sharapova's place in the tournament instead. More info on Sharapova as well as other tennis greats can be read by clicking here.
As of today, Maria Sharapova's net worth is $29.5 M according to forbes.com.