AFP, Brisbane :
Defending champion and tournament drawcard Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the season-opening Brisbane International with a left forearm injury, organisers said Tuesday.
World number four and third seed Sharapova said she “hurt my forearm in practice a couple days ago” and needed to withdraw as a precaution ahead of the Australian Open.
“Brisbane Tennis is such a special event especially being defending champion. I look forward to seeing all my fans next year,” she said according to a statement tweeted by Brisbane International.
The 28-year-old Russian had been due to play fellow countrywoman Ekaterina Makarova in the first round later Tuesday.
Makarova will now face a “lucky loser”, the organisers added.
The latter half of Sharapova’s 2015 season was wrecked by injuries, first to her right leg which forced her to miss the US Open.
