Tennis star Maria Sharapova has pulled out of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells next week with an injury. Sharapova has not played since losing to Serena Williams at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Sharapova is reportedly dealing with a left forearm injury. She lost to Williams in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, which was the 18th straight time that Sharapova has lost to Williams. She previously won the BNP Paribas Open twice, including in 2013 when she did not drop a set during the competition.
"I am extremely disappointed that I am unable to compete in this year's BNP Paribas Open," Sharapova said.
Sharapova has been dealing with the forearm injury for some time, as she had to drop out at the Wuhan Open last season with the same issue. The 28-year-old star is not the only high profile player to sit out of the tournament, as Roger Federer also will not be participating after having knee surgery. The next tournament for Sharapova on the schedule is the Miami Open at the end of the month. As things stand now, she's still scheduled to play in that tournament.
Williams has only played in one tournament - the Australian Open - since the U.S. Open last September. She has not played too much since the Australian Open in January either, but the top-ranked tennis star said she is not worried about any rust at Indian Wells. Williams lost to Angelique Kerber in the final of the Australian Open and she has not played in another tournament since then in 2016.
"There's nothing that can stop me right now besides me," Williams said.
Williams has recently pulled out of two events due to illness, but said that she is "ready" for Indian Wells. "I'll be ready to go today. I'll be ready to go tomorrow," she said.
Williams will be joined at Indian Wells by her sister Venus for the first time in over a decade. The sisters had previously both boycotted the tournament after suffering verbal attacks there back in 2001. Serena opted to return to the tournament last year, and Venus has followed suit for this year, announcing the news last week that her sister inspired her to make a return to the tournament.
The 2016 BNP Paribas Open will take place March 9 through March 20.
