World number three Maria Sharapova, temporarily known as Sugarpova, has pulled out of next week’s US Open due to a shoulder injury, according to tournament organisers.
The Russian, 26, recently lodged an enquiry with the Supreme Court of Florida over ‘conditional’ name change to Sugerpova for the duration of the tournament on the understanding her name will revert back after the tournament concludes.
However, the name change which was aimed to help her advertise her range of sweet will no more be necessary as the 2006 champion will not be available for the final Grand Slam of the year at Flushing Meadows, New York.
“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has informed us that she will be unable to compete at the US Open this year due to a right shoulder bursitis and has withdrawn from the tournament,” tournament director David Brewer said in a statement.
“We wish her speedy recovery and look forward to her return to New York next year.”
The last time the former world number one skipped the US Open was in 2008, when she was off the tour for about ten months due to a surgery on her right shoulder.
