Former French Open champion Maria Sharapova has confirmed that she’ll miss this year’s tournament through injury.
The 32-year-old has withdrawn from this year’s tournament because of her long-standing shoulder problem, which has kept her on the sidelines since January.
The world’s number 35 underwent a minor operation in February and won’t be fit enough to play in the second Grand Slam of the season, which begins on May 26 and runs to June 9.
“Sometimes the right decisions aren’t always the easiest ones,” the five-time Grand Slam winner said on confirming she won’t line up in Paris.
Sharapova won the last of her 36 WTA titles in October 2017 and was champion on the Paris clay in 2012 and 2014. The Russian-born star returned to the tour in April 2017 after a 15-month ban.
Last year she was knocked out of the French Open in the last-eight by Garbine Muguruza. In the opening Grand Slam of this year, Sharapova lost Australia’s Ashleigh Barty in the round of 16 in Melbourne.
While she won’t be in Paris, it appears that Sharapova could make it to Wimbledon in time to try and add to her 2004 All-England Club success as she is now back on the practice court.
“In better news, I have returned to the practice court, and slowly building the strength back in my shoulder,” she posted on her Instagram account.
Simona Halep is favourite at 4.50 to win the French Open, while Spain’s Muguruza is priced at 17.00 and Serena Williams is 13.00.
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