On Friday’s match at the Shenzhen Open, Maria Sharapova was forced to retire from the tournament after she suffered a thigh injury. This injury also translates into a massive blow for her preparations for the upcoming Australian Open.
The former world no. 1 was trailing by 6-4 and 1-2 in her match against Aryna Sabalenka during the quarterfinals match of the tournament when she called off the match.
Sharapova previously won the Australian Open back in 2008. After her 15 months doping ban she tasted her first defeat at the Tianjin Open back in 2017.
Since then she has been having a really hard time but her run to the quarterfinals of the French Open last year game reasons for fans to be optimistic. However her lacking performance at the US Open and Wimbledon last year showed that she lacks the skills now to perform at the highest level.
With Australian Open to be starting by 14th January, she is now in a race against time to be fit until the first Grand Slam tournament of the year starts.
As for her opponent, Sabalenka she will now face Wang Yafan who herself defeated the qualifier Monica Niculescu by 2-6, 7-6, and 6-1.
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