TENNIS in DEPTH.

Maria Sharapova has pulled out of next week’s Italian Open and the following Madrid Open as her shoulder continues to cause serious concerns.

The three-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one has not played a singles match since last August after surgery on her right shoulder.

Sharapova played her first match in seven months on 12 March when she lost a doubles match in Indian Wells.

The Russian has slipped to number 64 in the world rankings.

The continuation of her injury problem, which has received more press coverage and more expert treatment than any other shoulder in history, may never be resolved. A rotator cuff injury can remain as a problem for a lifetime especially when it is a body part of a world class athlete. It may heal enough for it not to present an everyday problem for her, but may never heal to a point where she can once again subject it to the rigors of highly competitive tennis.

Sometime in the not so distant future I will not be surprised to hear that Maria Sharapova has decided, on her doctor’s advice, to retire from tennis.

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