Maria Sharapova announced she has pulled out of the U.S. Open due to an injury on her right shoulder.
"I just wanted to let you know that withdrawing from the US Open has been a really tough decision to make. I have done everything I could since Wimbledon to get myself ready, but it just wasn't enough time," said the Russian tennis player via a statement on her Web site. "I have done many tests, received several opinions and it all comes down to taking the proper amount of time to heal my shoulder injury properly. It's certainly not an easy decision to make ahead of one of my favorite tournaments, but I know it's the right one that will get me back on the courts soon."
Sharapova went back to Los Angeles after her Wimbledon loss to Michelle Larcher de Brito, according to Tennis.com, where she underwent treatment - including a series of shots, both cortison and platelet rich plasma (PRP) - on her surgically repaired shoulder. Sharapova pulled out of tournaments in Stanford and Toronto, opting to play in the Western & Southern Open, only to lose in her opening match against American Sloane Stephens.
Sharapova's creaky shoulder has prevented her from practicing her serve, and the pain is so severe now its forced her to bow out of the U.S. Open.
"Maria Sharapova is one of the great warriors of the tennis world," USTA executive director and chief operating officer Gordon Smith told the Associated Press. "If she withdrew, there's a serious issue."
While Sharapova takes time out to heal, No. 1 seed Serena Williams is looking to win a second consecutive U.S. Open, her fourth in total. Only Chris Evert (6) and Steffi Graf (5) have won more U.S. Open titles since 1968 than Williams.
Williams has been on a roll, going 77-4 and winning last year's Wimbledon championship, a gold medal at the London Olympics, the U.S. Open and this year's French Open over a 14 month stretch.
"I'm definitely prepared. I'm definitely ready for New York," said Williams. "I definitely had more matches than I could want, but I'm definitely prepared for the US Open."
Two of Williams' defeats, during her magnificent stretch, came at the hands of Victoria Azerenka, who is ranked No. 2 going into the U.S. Open. The Belarus native won the Australian Open and has defeated Williams twice this year, including in the finals in Doha, Qatar and last Sunday at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.
"I had tough losses before against her, but I feel like I learned from those losses, and it helps me improve," said Azarenka. "I feel like I'm playing better and better. I'm reaching for the new level that I want to be at, physically, mentally, tennis-wise and that's the progression that I'm really the most excited about."
Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska becomes the third seed, taking Sharapova's ranking after her injury. She is followed by Italy's Sara Errani (4), China's Li Na (5), Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki (6), Czech Petra Kvitova (7) and Germany's Angelique Kerber (8).
The U.S. Open begins Monday, Aug. 26 with CBS Sports Network and ESPN providing television coverage.
For the full U.S. Open schedule click here.