Maria Sharapova won’t be able to defend her title at Australian open this year. This news is bound to disappoint fans of 23- year old Russian player who has won all major tournaments last year. Sharapova has been nursing shoulder injury since last August. She has finally announced that though largely recovered and back in practice, she hasn’t yet recovered her form to play her first Grand Slam of the year 2009.

It must have been a most difficult decision for Sharapova. No tennis champion would want to give Grand Slam a miss. But when a player has to defend last year’s title, pressure to perform at highest level is big. Apart from the title and records they risk slipping down in world ranking. Also winners get good prize money. Starting this year Australian Open winners are going to get increased prize money. So she is going to miss it all. But meanwhile apart from practicing she can always endorse brands and be visible to her fans. Hope she’ll be back with a bang winning all tournaments, Grand Slams back to back and breaking all previous records!!

Via Timesonline