Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Brisbane International with an ankle injury.
She first suffered the left ankle injury at the Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo in September and has yet to fully recover.
"Unfortunately my ankle is not 100 per cent and I won't be able to make it this year," Sharapova told Brisbane tournament officials in a statement released on Saturday.
It would have been her first appearance at the Brisbane event which begins January 1.
The 2008 Australian Open champion said the injury, which also forced her to withdraw from the China Open and later the WTA Championships in Istanbul after two losses, should not affect her chances of competing at next month's grand slam event, which begins January 16 in Melbourne.
"I do expect to be ready for the year's first grand slam and I am really looking forward to competing on court."
AAP
Tags: tennis, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia First posted December 24, 2011 14:13:45
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