Sharapova Retires in Wuhan

Russia’s Maria Sharapova leaves the court after her women’s singles match against Czech Republic’s Barbora Strycova at the Wuhan Open tennis tournament, Hubei province, China, September 28, 2015.

She had not played since losing to Serena Williams in the semi-finals of Wimbledon in July.

But the 28-year-old has accepted a wildcard into the WTA Premier event played on hard-courts in China as she looks for a strong finish to the season. “Unfortunately, my concussion symptoms came back during practice on Saturday and it would not be safe for me to go on court today”, Bouchard said in a statement. But the field remains open for all but the world’s top three, and competition at the Wuhan Open is certain to be intense with 18 of the top 20 players attending.

“I don’t remember the last time I redrew in the middle of a match”.

Williams is sitting out the tournament and US Open victor Flavia Pennetta – whose surprise grand slam victory saw her shoot up the rankings from 26 to 7 – withdrew at the last minute with a foot injury.

The Wuhan Open with a US$2.4 million purse, is the penultimate qualifying tournament before the WTA Finals in Singapore.

“I travelled to Wuhan with the intention of playing”.

The Czech was diagnosed with glandular fever this year but has been given the medical OK to compete. Suarez Navarro and Pliskova are seventh and eighth.

Maria Sharapova’s return to tennis was ended abruptly today in Wuhan.

The Wimbledon finalist from last season whose 2015 has been a long downhill slide, pulled the plug on her participation three weeks after slipping and hitting her head in a darkened US Open training room as she walked on a wet floor.

Li has been out of the public eye since her retirement in 2014, a period in which she has given birth to her first child.