Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has apologized for her decision to withdraw from an upcoming exhibition match in Seoul against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark due to an injury, and said she’d try to make an appearance before South Korean fans next year, officials said Wednesday.
The match between the two former No. 1-ranked female players, initially set for this Friday, was canceled on Christmas Day after Sharapova ruled herself out of the event with a collarbone injury.
Organizers said Sharapova informed them of her status on early Christmas Day Korean time.
“For everyone in Korea, I’m sorry I had to withdraw from my exhibition match,” Sharapova wrote on her Facebook page.
“I woke up the other day with a neck pain and after doing a few tests, the doctor wants me to take the next few days without any playing. So that leaves me to say I’m sorry not to be there in Seoul and play in front of my fans. I will make it up to you soon.”
According to officials at IMG Korea, the local wing of the player’s agency, Sharapova sent an email saying an MRI taken on Christmas Day revealed inflammation in her collarbone.
Sharapova wrote that she was told to refrain from any physical activity until the inflammation subsides and that she will be re-examined in five days.
Before posting on her Facebook page, Sharapova also expressed her regret and disappointment at not coming to play in Seoul, IMG Korea said.
She also said she will talk to her sponsors to schedule an appearance in South Korea some time next year, IMG Korea added.
JS Management, a local tennis marketing firm and the event’s organizing agency, said it will try to schedule an exhibition match next year.
“We hope her injury is not too severe and that she will play well at the Australian Open next month,” said Lee Jin-soo, the head of JS Management. “Our plan is to try to have her play in an exhibition here next year.”
Sharapova, currently ranked No. 2, captured the French Open this year to become only the 10th female player to complete a career Grand Slam ― having won each of the four major championships at least once.
She returned to No. 1 for the first time in four years by reaching the French Open final before losing the top spot to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus following an early exit at Wimbledon.
Sharapova won the silver medal in women’s singles at the London Olympics, where she served as the flag bearer for Russia during the opening ceremony.
According to Forbes, Sharapova was the world’s richest female athlete from July 2011 to July 2012, with an estimated $27.1 million in earnings, mostly from off-court endorsements.
This would have been Sharapova’s first trip to South Korea since 2005, when she faced Venus Williams in an exhibition match in Seoul.
Sharapova was also the inaugural champion of the Korea Open in 2004.
It has been the only WTA tournament held in South Korea each fall since then, and Lee, whose JS Management organizes the tournament, said he will try to invite Sharapova for the Korea Open next year.
Wozniacki would have been traveling to Seoul for the second time this year.
In September, she won the Korea Open tournament for her 19th career WTA title. That put her fourth among active players in tournaments won, behind Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Sharapova.
Wozniacki ended the 2010 and 2011 seasons as the No. 1 player, and was at the top of the rankings as recently as January this year. Currently ranked 10th, Wozniacki is still seeking her first Grand Slam title.
Sharapova and Wozniacki were also scheduled to hold an autograph session and a clinic for amateur players during their stay. (Yonhap News)
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
