Sharapova pulls out of Olympics

[August 01, 2008]  (AP) -- Maria Sharapova will miss the Beijing Olympics because of a right shoulder injury.

The three-time Grand Slam singles champion said on her Web site Thursday that an MRI exam and other medical tests showed she has two small tears in tendons in her shoulder.

The right-handed Sharapova pulled out of the WTA tournament in Montreal because of the shoulder on Wednesday night -- after winning a nearly three-hour match in which she double-faulted a whopping 17 times.

She was examined by a trainer midway through the three-set victory.

"After yesterday's match, I knew there was something seriously wrong with my shoulder," Sharapova said in a posting on her Web site under the headline: "No chance of me competing in Beijing."

The Aug. 11-17 Olympic tennis tournament lost another top player earlier Thursday, when 2006 Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus withdrew because of a wrist injury.

Others who won't play in Beijing for various reasons include past Grand Slam singles champions Andy Roddick, Amelie Mauresmo and Mary Pierce.

Sharapova has been bothered off-and-on by her right shoulder for some time, and she pulled out of a tournament in March because of it.

"This is something that needs a lot of time to heal, which really hurts me to say that I have to miss the Olympics," she said on the Web site Thursday. "I'm currently packing up really quick to hop on the plane and head to (New York) for a second opinion, but I wanted to let all of you know first that there's no chance of me competing in Beijing. The timing is so unfortunate and this makes me more sad than anything."

Sharapova was briefly ranked No. 1 this season and is currently No. 3.

By skipping the Olympics, she will have more time to rest ahead of the U.S. Open, the year's last Grand Slam tournament, which begins Aug. 25.

[Associated Press]

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