Maria Sharapova To Feature At The Stuttgart Tournament

The Russian, Maria Sharapova notified about her absence from the American Double Sunshine this year, due to her right shoulder injury. Previously she was witnessed at the St Petersburg Open where she retired against her compatriot, Daria Kasatkina. This year, at the Australian Open, Maria Sharapova reached the fourth round where she lost to Australian, Ashleigh Barty.

The three-time consecutive champion (from 2012 to 2014) at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Maria Sharapova will be given a wildcard this year of the Stuttgart event which is to take place in the month of April. Along with her, the former champions, Julia Goerges and Laura Siegemund will be awarded a wildcard for the Stuttgart tournament. Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, the defending champion Karolina Pliskova, Sloane Stephens, Petra Kvitova, Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens have entered the main draw of the tournament.

The former World Number five, Anna Chakvetadze spoke about the shoulder injury which Maria Sharapova is going through. “It’s difficult to predict something now”, said Chakvetadze. “It looks like the surgery was not that serious. But Masha (Maria Sharapova) still had a meaningful break during her injuries. Athletes do not usually like to undergo surgery. But if it helps, you need to do it. This year Andy Murray underwent a surgery. Masha has an old injury that may not have allowed her to give her best and show another level of the game, without getting the success we were all waiting for. Masha does not know where to go.”

She continued to speak about Maria Sharapova, “if you look at Venus and herself, you can play until 37-38 years. I do not know how Maria is ready for that mentally. It looks like that after 30 it’s difficult to be back, especially following an injury. But tennis players miraculously comeback. Masha will now do a nice break. She may already be ready for the clay-court season. She recently played well on that surface. Even if she was not in good shape, she played better at the French Open than how she did in other tournaments. It will be interesting to see how she will be doing with her shoulder. Unfortunately, not all surgeries help. No one really knows what will happen.”