Sharapova withdraw from Dubai Tennis Championships

Organizers of Dubai Tennis Championships confirmed on Thursday the withdrawal of two leading players Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams for health reasons, the tournament’s official website reported.

Sharapova, world number one and Dubai Women’s Open 2006 runner-up, has withdrawn from the tournament because of a hamstring injury that she suffered during the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, the report said.

“I am very disappointed to have to withdraw from the Dubai Tennis Championships because the hamstring that I injured in Tokyo is not yet healed. I tried to do everything possible to be in condition to play in Dubai as it is one of my favorite tournaments, but unfortunately I’m not ready. I’m looking forward to continuing to recover as quickly as possible so that I can get back on the court competing,” Sharapova was quoted as saying.

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Maria Sharapova’s Photoshoot for Vogue

Here’s some photos of Maria during the photoshoot for Vogue magazine.

Sharapova Still Reeling from defeat to Serena?

Tennis temptress Maria Sharapova was on set for a Vogue photo shoot yesterday — and she was not happy to be there. We’re told she didn’t even crack a smile — until the paparazzi showed up!

Maria Sharapova Retires form the Toray Pan Pacific Open

In a sad twist of events, World no. 1 Maria Sharapova had to retire in the semi-final game against Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic when Sharapova pulled out with a strained left hamstring.

Sharapova, the 2005 Toray champion who was stopped in the semifinals for the second year in a row, said she felt tightness in her thigh following a loss in the Australian Open final prior to coming to Japan.

“After a Grand Slam you’re tight in a lot of places, but it’s something that I’ve had for a week or so now,” the Russian said.

“In the second game today after I served, I pushed off and when I landed I felt a much sharper pain.”

After dropping the first set, Sharapova called her coach onto court, then asked for the Tour trainer. There was a moment of confusion over whether the new rules governing on-court coaching allow for a simultaneous visit by the trainer.

But Sharapova got her way and received a massage on the back of her thigh and acupressure on her lower back. She returned for the second set and, despite holding serve, decided to call it a day to the disappointment of the crowd of 8,860.

“It’s unfortunate, but it’s hard to continue when you feel like you can’t push off the serve or the return,” Sharapova said. “It’s obviously disappointing for me and my fans, but I look forward to getting better and coming back here next year.”

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Sharapova Defeats Ai Sugiyama

Misfiring on her serve for a second straight day, Maria Sharapova still had enough in her arsenal to blow away her opponent.

Sharapova overcame a first-set loss to storm to a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory Friday over Japan’s Ai Sugiyama and into the semifinals of the 1.34 million dollars Toray Pan Pacific Open.

Sharapova, aiming to regain the title she won in 2005, will next face fifth-seed Ana Ivanovic, who also rallied from a set down to win an all-Serbian quarterfinal 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 over No. 4 seed Jelena Jankovic.

Before a partisan crowd of 7,792 at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, Sharapova put on a dominating performance worthy of her world No. 1 ranking–minus the serve.

“I said yesterday there are going to be days when some part of your game is going to be off and this tournament it’s definitely been my serve,” Sharapova said.

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