MINSK, 12 June (BelTA) – Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova will not compete in the Wimbledon qualifying at Roehampton because of injury. The Russian athlete has posted the news on its page in the social networks, BelTA has learned.
The former world number one planned to play in a series of grass court tournaments ahead of the Wimbledon. Maria Sharapova has not played since retiring with a thigh problem from her second-round match at the Italian Open on 16 May. The player returned in April after a 15-month doping ban and had a wildcard for next week's Aegon Classic in Birmingham. She has already played in three WTA tournaments. She reached the semifinal in Sttutgart, lost the second round in Madrid and withdrew from the second-round encounter in Rome. Now, Maria Sharapova is ranked 178th in the world.
Another former world number one Victoria Azarenka is busy gearing up for her return to competition after giving birth. She plans to play in a tournament which starts in Majorca, Spain on 18 June. The tournament will be the first competitions for Vika ahead of the Wimbledon which is scheduled for 3-16 July.
Victoria Azarenka gave birth to her son in December 2016. She is currently training with her coach Michael Joyce. She had previously been targeting a return at the Bank of the West Classic in California, which begins on 31 July.
