Maria Sharapova has pulled out of next week’s Cincinnati Open, just days after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Caroline Garcia at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. The Russian star has not shared a specific reason for her withdrawal.
Sharapova had shown promising form earlier in the tournament, brushing aside Daria Kasatkina. But against Garcia, she struggled to keep up with the Frenchwoman’s aggressive strokes and precision. Reflecting on the loss, Sharapova admitted, “The few chances I had in the second set, I didn’t take them. She played really well today—consistent, deep, powerful, served effectively. Those were areas I didn’t execute well.”
Since returning to the tour after serving a doping ban, Sharapova has had an inconsistent run. She also recently split from her longtime coach. On the stop-start nature of her comeback, she explained, “When you don’t play consistently, it’s frustrating to keep starting and stopping. But sometimes you need to make those decisions for your body. As you get older, they’re the smart calls you have to make.”
The 5-time Grand Slam champion also acknowledged how much tougher the women’s game has become. “The level has gone up a lot. A few years ago, you could use the early rounds as warm-ups. But now, with so many upsets happening, you have to be prepared from the very first match,” she said.
While Sharapova hasn’t provided an exact explanation for skipping Cincinnati, fatigue seems the most likely reason.
