Sharapova withdraws from Italian Open with shoulder injury

ROME - Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has announced to pull out of the forthcoming Italian Open with a lingering injury on the right shoulder.

Sharapova, ranking 28th in the world, hasn't played since withdrawing from a tournament with the same injury in St. Petersburg, Russia in late January.

The Russian star player said in February that she has suffered a lot from shoulder pain caused by fraying tendon and labrum tear since last summer. Although Sharapova had an operation and gradually recovered from it, she still struggles with pain.

Sharapova's spot for the main draw will be replaced by Viktoria Kuzmova from Slovakia, whose seat for the qualifier will be given to Golubic from Switzerland accordingly.

Sharapova won the Italian Open in 2011, 2012, and 2015. Last year she reached the semifinals but lost to Simona Halep of Romania. The absence of this year's competition will be no small loss to the three-time champion's ranking points.