Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami with a bone bruise on her right elbow, the same injury that bothered her during her 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 loss to Jie Zheng on Sunday at Indian Wells.
“I just felt like I couldn't really extend it all the way,” she said at Indian Wells. “It was a little stuck. I'm not sure if it's the balls or maybe the air and the tension is a little bit tighter. But [the trainer] said that more than average have been complaining about arms, so I don't know.”
Sharapova went in for an MRI to have the injury looked at the day after her loss and doctors told her that she will be out for up to six weeks. She’s been told that she has to rest her elbow for three weeks before she starts hitting again, and a source said that she’s doubtful for her next scheduled tournament in Charleston on April 12.—Matthew Cronin