The Premier-level Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan begins on Monday, September 23 and it will be missing a couple of marquee players.
Russia’s Maria Sharapova, the world number three, has pulled out of the tournament due to ongoing rehabilitation of her right shoulder. The Russian former world number one had pulled out of the US Open and several North American hardcourt tournaments due to nagging problems of her right shoulder, the same shoulder that underwent surgery a few years ago.
Sharapova cited “right shoulder bursitis” as the reason for pulling out of the hardcourt event.
The 26-year old has stated in recent interviews that she intends to compete at the year-end WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. Sharapova reached the final last year but lost to Serena Williams in the title match.
Williams, the world number one and the 2013 US Open champion, also pulled out of the event due to fatigue.
“I’m disappointed to have to withdraw from the Pan Pacific Open, which I was very much looking forward to playing this year,” she said. “Unfortunately with the number of matches I have played throughout the summer I need more time to properly recover.”
This would mean that world number two Victoria Azarenka will become the top seed of the tournament followed by 4th-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska.
