Maria Sharapova pulled out of the 2015 U.S. Open due to a right leg injury. She has not played in any tournaments, including Toronto and Cincinnati, since Wimbledon in July.
“Unfortunately I will not be able to compete in this years US Open,” she wrote on Facebook. “I have done everything possible to be ready but it was just not enough time. To all my amazing fans, I will be back in the Asian swing in a few weeks and look forward to finishing the year healthy and strong.”
Her withdrawal will help Serena Williams, the favorite to win her fifth Grand Slam and achieve a year Grand Slam. However, they would have met in the semifinals and Williams won the previous 17 matches between the two. Now, if Williams loses early, then the top portion of the draw becomes wide open.
As Nick McCarvel points out, the withdrawal will help seventh-seed Ana Ivanovic the most since she could have met the Russian in the quarterfinals. Yet, the Serb “is a less than reliable performer” since she “has lost before the second week at the majors in six of the last 11 she’s played.”
The last Grand Slam of the year begins Monday in New York City at 11 a.m. Eastern. Ivanovic will play in one of the first matches of the day. Serena Williams kicks off the night matches at 7 p.m. Eastern.
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