Poor Masha. Lindsay is just destined to keep the no.1 rank
Injury setback for Sharapova
August 13, 2005 - 3:10PM
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Maria Sharapova's ascent to world No.1 is on hold, but only temporarily.
The 2004 Wimbledon champion, vying to become the first Russian woman to capture tennis's top spot, pulled out of the $US585,000 ($760,000) WTA tournament here today with a painful pectoral muscle.
She withdrew just hours before her scheduled quarter-final clash against Daniela Hantuchova, knowing that a victory would have seen her vault past injured American Lindsay Davenport to become world No.1 when the rankings are released on Monday.
"I said if I was going to wake up with any kind of pain and with a feeling that I can't play 100 per cent, then I would have to unfortunately withdraw and that was the case," she said. I didn't find any miracle cream."
But with Davenport nursing an injury, the leggy 18-year-old can still expect to see her name atop the rankings before the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year, begins on August 29.
Sharapova's injury followed earlier withdrawals of Davenport, Serena Williams, Mary Pierce, Vera Zvonareva, Elena Likhovtseva and Ai Sugiyama from this event.
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AdvertisementFans were still able to collect their Maria Sharapova bobblehead dolls - the plastic likenesses of players are popular handouts at US basketball and baseball games - but the Russian they saw on court was third seed Elena Dementieva.
She made short work of Italian Tathiana Garbin 6-1 6-1 to book a semi-final clash with Hantuchova.
Fifth-seeded Belgian Kim Clijsters, herself a former world number one, advanced to the semi-finals with a 6-4 6-2 victory over fourth-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova.
She will face Francesca Schiavone of Italy, who eliminated Spanish veteran Conchita Martinez 7-5 6-4.
Sharapova is on course to become the 15th player and fifth-youngest to reach the coveted throne when the rankings are released on August 22.
"Of course it's a dream come true to be able to win a Grand Slam and be number one in the world," she said. "It definitely puts a smile on your face."
While Sharapova remains entered in next week's WTA tournament in Toronto, she said it was unlikely that she will play there.
But she was unperturbed at the prospect of reaching the top of the rankings while sitting on the sidelines.
"The computer doesn't lie," she said. "You have to achieve something in order to get there. It's been an amazing two years. It's been all hard work and dedication. The achievement is amazing."
Sharapova said she originally suffered a strained right pectoral muscle in Zurich last October, blaming a switch to heavier balls.
Although she pronounced herself healthy prior to this event, the injury flared up in a practice session Monday, prompting her to have an MRI on Wednesday.
She said she played in pain in Thursday's 4-6 6-4 7-5 victory over compatriot Anna Chakveadze.
"It has been an on and off problem for me," said Sharapova, who said the injury interfered with her serve and her powerful forehand. "I don't think the pain is going to go away with me trying to play and hit as hard as I can."
Meanwhile, top men's seed Rafael Nadal dominated Mariano Puerta 6-3, 6-1 today to reach the semi-finals of the $US2.45 million ($3.2 million) ATP Montreal Masters Series tournament.
The 19-year-old Spaniard, who came from a set down against Puerta in the French Open final to claim his first Grand Slam title, rolled to his 14th straight match win.
AFP
