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Maria Sharapova’s Australian Open preparations have been hit by her decision to withdraw from the Brisbane International Tournament in January with an ankle injury.
Sharapova has said that she should get fit by the time the Australian Open begins but the withdrawal will mean that she will not have much practice going into the tournament.
The Russian suffered from the injury in the Pan Pacific Open this September and has yet to fully recover from that issue.
Sharapova won the Australian Open in 2008, beating Ana Ivanovic after losing in the final in 2007 to Serena Williams. She has also won the Wimbledon and the US Open once. She was the Wimbledon runner-up in 2011.
Sharapova said that her ankle wasn’t 100% fit and hence she wouldn’t be able to make it to the tournament. She added, “I was really looking forward to starting my 2012 season at the Brisbane International, which has a fantastic reputation as a great and welcoming event,"
She also said that she was looking to compete in the Australian Open, that begins from January 16 next year.
Sharapova said, "I do expect to be ready for the year's first Grand Slam, and I am really looking forward to competing on court."
