Maria Sharapova shown at the recent Vanity Fair Oscar Party, has called for a press conference to make a major announcement
Retirement for Maria?
Rumours rife as Russia tennis ace, who has has played only three tournaments in the past eight months, calls Monday press conference to make major announcement
Speculation was rife about Maria Sharapova's future on Sunday after the Russian superstar of women's tennis called a press conference to make what was termed a 'major announcement'.
The 5 time grand slam title winner will speak address a press coference in Los Angeles at lunchtime on Monday, with inevitable rumour that she might be about to signal her retirement from the sport. Sharapova has played only three tournaments in the past eight months and recently has had a succession of problems with her right arm and shoulder, the latter having already undergone surgery in 2013. Sharapova has not been able to stop the string of successive losses to Serena Williams, at the latter stages of slam events in recent years. This has significantly limited her chances of of adding to her collection of 5 grand slam titles With a new crop of talented young challangers climbing the rankings, the pressure to remain on the circuit playing at the highest level during the grueling WLTA calendar year could yet pose a daunting task.
Sharapova has only played three tournaments in the last eight months after being plagued with injury
Minimally it would appear likely that her career has hit another hiatus, and last week the world number seven announced that she was withdrawing from this week's high level event at Indian Wells.
Announcing that decision on Thursday, Sharapova said: 'I have been focused on healing my left forearm injury and tried to get my body to be 100 per cent ready to play this event. I will be anxious to return next year.'
Speculation is rife that the 2004 Wimbledon champion could be about to call time on her career
Sharapova (L) shakes hands with the legendary Serena Williams but won't emulate her playing until mid thirties
Certainly it is unusual for a press conference outside a tournament to be given such a billing, although Sharapova has so many commercial projects on the go that it would not be past her to make some announcement with half an eye on promoting some venture.
Sharapova's manager, Max Eisenbud, told Eurosport Russia in February this was unlikely to be her final season.He said: 'I think not. But in order to play again she needs to be healthy.'
She has never denied that she is unlikely to emulate the Williams sisters in playing to her mid-thirties. If she did signal the end she will not be short of ways of keeping herself busy.
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