London: Sensational Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has pulled out of the upcoming French Open because of her long-standing shoulder injury.
The 32-year-old has not played since pulling out of an event in her native Russia at the end of January and had a small operation in February, international English news channel reports.
The two-time Roland Garros champion announced on Instagram that she would not be participating in the tournament, which begins on May 26.
Shocking: Tennis sensation Maria Sharapova pulls out from French Open
“Withdrawing from the French Open today. Sometimes the right decisions aren’t always the easiest ones,” she posted. “In better news, I have returned to the practice court, and slowly building the strength back in my shoulder. I really miss you Paris, until next year,” she added.
Sharapova, who won the French title in 2012 and 2014, returned to the tour in April 2017 after serving a 15-month ban for taking the banned drug meldonium.
She reached the quarter-finals of the French Open last year, losing 2-6, 1-6 to third seed Garbine Muguruza.
