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Sharapova comeback cut short
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Maria Sharapova’s comeback from a leg injury lasted less than three sets yesterday before she retired with a left arm problem against unseeded Barbora Strycova at the Wuhan Open.
The world No. 3 had been out with a persistent leg injury since July, when she lost a Wimbledon semifinal to Serena Williams, and pulled out of three events including the US Open.
But the Russian’s long-awaited return in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, proved short-lived as she was pushed to two tie-breaks by Czech Strycova — 6-7 (1), 7-6 (4) — before withdrawing when 2-1 up in the third.
Sharapova’s retirement leaves a question mark over the rest of her season with only one big tournament, the China Open, left before the year-ending WTA Finals in Singapore.
She had pulled out of a WTA event in Toronto and the Cincinnati Masters hoping to be ready for the US Open, but was also forced to withdraw from the year’s final grand slam tournament.
“Obviously I took a large amount of time to get back to a level where I can come to a tournament, which is very important,” Sharapova said on Saturday as she arrived in Wuhan.
“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t healthy and ready to compete.”
Earlier, in her first match since losing in the US Open final, Roberta Vinci rallied to beat qualifier Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 in the first round.
The 15th-seeded Italian was broken three times in the opening set, but picked up her game to advance to the second round.
At the US Open, Vinci stopped Serena Williams’ bid for a calendar-year grand slam by upsetting the American in the semifinals.
Vinci’s compatriot and doubles partner Sara Errani, seeded 16th, however, lost 7-6 (4), 4-6, 2-6 to France’s Caroline Garcia.
Eugenie Bouchard withdrew from the tournament yesterday because of the concussion she sustained during the US Open. The 21-year-old Canadian said she’s “frustrated and disappointed” that she won’t be able to compete.
Bouchard was due to meet 18-year-old Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in the first round. Instead No. 11 Bencic, who lost to Agnieszka Radwanska in the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo on Sunday, beat lucky loser Ajla Tomljanovic of Croatia 7-5, 7-5 to advance.
Also in the first round, ninth-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia defeated Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-1, 6-3; Sloane Stephens of the United States beat compatriot Alison Riske 7-6 (4), 6-3; and 14th-seeded American Madison Keys beat Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (4).
Eighth-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, who had a bye in the first round, defeated Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia 7-6 (4), 5-7, 7-6 (5) in the second round.
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