Injury rules Maria Sharapova out of Qatar Open

Omnisports

February 10, 2016 10:11 AM

World number six Maria Sharapova has pulled out of the WTA Qatar Open as she continues to struggle with a forearm injury.

___4669513___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___4669513___2016___2___10___16___mariasharapova-cropped_1o3g75nwr255k1tyuy64bbsl8r_2

Maria Sharapova will miss the Qatar Open as she continues to recover from the forearm injury she sustained at the Australian Open.

The five-time grand slam winner has not played since her quarter-final defeat to Serena Williams in Melbourne, although she was included in Russia's squad for the Fed Cup last weekend.

She was not used as the 2015 runners-up were dumped out by Netherlands, and her season is not set to resume until the end of the month.

It will be another blow for Sharapova after her 2015 season was hampered by a leg injury, the 28-year-old missing three months towards the end of the year before returning at the WTA Finals.

"Unfortunately, I will not be able to play the Qatar Open because of my left forearm injury," she is quoted as saying by the tournament website.

"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 has won the Qatar Open on two occasions – 2005 and 2008 – and was a semi-finalist in her last appearance in 2013.

Omnisports