Maria Sharapova pulls out of US Open 2013 Championships

After all the publicity about changing her name and bringing back her father as a full-time coach, Russian tennis superstar Maria Sharapova won’t be competing at the US Open 2013 Championships after all.

The world number three has announced on Wednesday evening that she has withdrawn her participation at the last Grand Slam event of the year.

“Maria has informed us that she will be unable to compete at the US Open this year due to a right shoulder bursitis and has withdrawn from the tournament,” said US Open Tournament Director David Brewer.

Several sources have stated that Sharapova has been having treatments for her shoulder since her surprise second round exit at the Wimbledon Championships. Additionally, she was advised to pull out of the entire Northern American hardcourt season, including Stanford, Toronto and Cincinnati. However, Sharapova opted to compete in Cincinnati with Jimmy Connors as her new coach. The results were disastrous. The Russian lost in the opening round against Sloane Stephens and eventually, Connors was fired from the team.

In her official Facebook page, Sharapova released the following statement:

Hi everyone, 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. 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. I plan on taking the next few weeks off, receiving proper treatment and rehabilitation. I will miss being part of the US Open, but can’t wait for the next year!

Sharapova won the US Open in 2006. With her withdrawal, Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska secured the number three seeding while Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova snagged the number 32 seeding.

The US Open 2013 Championships begin on Monday, August 26.