World number two Maria Sharapova pulled out of next week’s China Open after injuring her ankle at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament, WTA officials said on Friday.
The 24-year-old Russian twisted her left ankle when she landed after hitting a serve and retired from her match against Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
“Good news is that the MRI showed no big damage in the ankle. Will do my best to recover in time for Istanbul (the season-ending championships),” the two-time Pan Pacific Open champion said on her website.
“It better recover soon because I can become quite the annoying patient! I will keep everyone posted with my progress.”