[Maria Croft]

I would like to add that I'm not worried about her lack of matches though. She never seemed like the type of player that needed many matches to get ready for events such as Slams.

[Lesborah]

Originally Posted by Maria Croft

I would like to add that I'm not worried about her lack of matches though. She never seemed like the type of player that needed many matches to get ready for events such as Slams.

Idk it depends. It is a new year so ... I have no idea... It can be an awful thing ... I really hope I am just pessimistic.

[Trih]

I'm just worried about her being healthy please please Maria be ok about health , everything else will be ok eventually.

[domon17th]

Originally Posted by Maria Croft

I would like to add that I'm not worried about her lack of matches though. She never seemed like the type of player that needed many matches to get ready for events such as Slams.

Originally Posted by debby

Idk it depends. It is a new year so ... I have no idea... It can be an awful thing ... I really hope I am just pessimistic.

I don't think match play was ever an issue for the AO though. Barring 2010-2011, she has managed pretty good results with rather minimal matches prior to AO. So if like what she said she made great progress with off season training, then I'm fairly confident of her chances this year.

[Trih]

And this tournament sucks already:
Maria: withdrew
Caro: out
Petra: out
Sara: out
Ula: out

fuck dis shit

[Lesborah]

Ok then thats a good thing.. Now i hope it is a lame injury and that she is not lying to us. That would suck so fingers crossed we see her training a lot. Maybe she wanted to avoid Serena. just kidding.

[Asanty]

Originally Posted by SilverSlam

She said that she couldnt hit serves, someone asked if it was related to her previous shoulder injuries and she said it's all related, yeah. Thats not good at all.

I think she's recovered, and she just wasn't match ready, so she didn't want to play poorly.

*** ^
She said the latest injury also forced her to withdraw from a recent exhibition tournament in South Korea, but was "not at all" related to the right shoulder problem that has plagued her since 2008.

"I had a bit of inflammation in my collarbone, and I sent (scan results) to a doctor in New York and he told me I couldn't really do much overhead training for about a week," she said. "So to be fair, I haven't really given myself a chance to pretty much hit any serves or anything over my head ... So I just kind of ran out of time here."

Sharapova said she started practicing her serves again on Monday and it wasn't enough time to properly prepare for a tournament featuring eight of the top 10 women. The Australian Open starts Jan. 14 at Melbourne Park.

The four-time major winner told a news conference earlier in the Brisbane tournament that she felt relaxed and relieved to have finally broken a Grand Slam drought by winning the French Open last year. The win at Roland Garros completed a career Grand Slam and was her first major title since the 2008 Australian Open.

On Tuesday, she reiterated she was "feeling so much better."

[domon17th]

Originally Posted by debby

Ok then thats a good thing.. Now i hope it is a lame injury and that she is not lying to us. That would suck so fingers crossed we see her training a lot. Maybe she wanted to avoid Serena. just kidding.

That would be Seles

[Chrissie-fan]

I'm a bit worried about this. Any shoulder related injury is reason for concern. And even if it won't have any long term consequences, it's bound to interfere with her preperation for the AO. Everyone else is having what for them is the ideal preperation while Maria will have no matches under her belt and will only be able to train at less than a 100%. Not a good way to start the year by any means. Let's hope for a soft draw in the first couple of rounds at the AO so that she'll get some time to work herself into the tournament.

[OlympianPova]

Although I am disappointed Maria withdrew, it is important she is 100% fit for AO. Just hoping she will not overdo it by not letting it heal completely.

I think this tournament already has a winner. Who can beat Serena?? She will be number 1 by the end of the month.

[Cosmic Voices]

Guys I've just woken up - checked on my iPhone and saw Masha isn't on the OOP
HAS SHE WITHDREW? bare in mind this is a first reaction post and I haven't read back what was said...if so I'd rather she be prepared for AO so I'm not worried!

[Trih]

Originally Posted by Chrissie-fan

I'm a bit worried about this. Any shoulder related injury is reason for concern. And even if it won't have any long term consequences, it's bound to interfere with her preperation for the AO. Everyone else is having what for them is the ideal preperation while Maria will have no matches under her belt and will only be able to train at less than a 100%. Not a good way to start the year by any means. Let's hope for a soft draw in the first couple of rounds at the AO so that she'll get some time to work herself into the tournament.

I'm not really worried about her not having matches under her belt, of course it would be better but she proved other times that she can get into a big tournament anyway. What I absolutely want is that she's physically fine and I hope it's true when she said she's feeling so much better.

[dsanders06]

Really nervous tbh. I mean, yes, she says she's not in danger of missing the AO, but, with all due respect to the Queen, didn't she say the same thing about Brisbane?

Plus, she could potentially draw the likes of Venus/Robson/Kuznetsova in the 1st round of the AO and have to play them without any prep whatsoever.

[Maria Croft]

Originally Posted by Asanty

*** ^
She said the latest injury also forced her to withdraw from a recent exhibition tournament in South Korea, but was "not at all" related to the right shoulder problem that has plagued her since 2008.

"I had a bit of inflammation in my collarbone, and I sent (scan results) to a doctor in New York and he told me I couldn't really do much overhead training for about a week," she said. "So to be fair, I haven't really given myself a chance to pretty much hit any serves or anything over my head ... So I just kind of ran out of time here."

Sharapova said she started practicing her serves again on Monday and it wasn't enough time to properly prepare for a tournament featuring eight of the top 10 women. The Australian Open starts Jan. 14 at Melbourne Park.

The four-time major winner told a news conference earlier in the Brisbane tournament that she felt relaxed and relieved to have finally broken a Grand Slam drought by winning the French Open last year. The win at Roland Garros completed a career Grand Slam and was her first major title since the 2008 Australian Open.

On Tuesday, she reiterated she was "feeling so much better."

Well, that's good to hear.
Sounds to me like she just wants to be 100% for the AO, and doesn't want to waste energy here.

[Светльо]

NOT AGAIN.

Originally Posted by dsanders06

Really nervous tbh. I mean, yes, she says she's not in danger of missing the AO, but, with all due respect to the Queen, didn't she say the same thing about Brisbane?

Plus, she could potentially draw the likes of Venus/Robson/Kuznetsova in the 1st round of the AO and have to play them without any prep whatsoever.

You have been preaching that she is doomed so no. Not to mention that she will be seeded. Kuznetsova lost to a girl named Kiki & Robson was slayed by Niculescu so I think that Maria should not fear them but her health.