A Shoulder Injury Forces Former Champion Maria Sharapova Out Of The US Open

The US Open lost one of its marquee stars last night with shockingly Maria Sharapova withdrew from the US Open citing right shoulder bursitis.

“Withdrawing from the US Open has been a really tough decision to make,” Sharapova wrote on Facebook. “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.”

The only other time Sharapova withdrew from the US Open was in 2008 when the same right shoulder was an issue.

The Russian won the US Open in 2006 but hasn’t been back to the finals since.

The news caps a tumultuous summer for the 26-year-old. Sharapova got into a rift with Serena over comments the world No. 1 made in Rolling Stone. Then she fired longtime coach Tomas Hogstedt after a second round loss at Wimbledon. She then hired and fired after one match former tennis great Jimmy Connors. She was expected to be back with father Yuri for the US Open.

And earlier this week there were widespread rumors she would change her last name to the name of her fledgling candy brand.

According to one report, Sharapova could miss the remainder of 2013 with this injury that’s been plaguing her since June.

The draws from the US Open will be announced later this morning.