Maria Sharapova pulls out of French Open 2019

PARIS, France - Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the French Open 2019 because of an ongoing shoulder injury.

The 32-year-old, who made the fourth round of this year's Australian Open, has not played since pulling out of the St Petersburg Open in January, citing a problem with her right shoulder. 

Sharapova, who won the Roland Garros title in 2012 and 2014, revealed her decision in a post on Instagram. She said: "Withdrawing from the French Open, sometimes the right decisions aren't always the easy ones." 

Sharapova ended her social media post on an upbeat note, adding: "In better news, I have returned to the practice court, and slowly building the strength back in my shoulder."

The French Open begins on May 26 and runs to June 9 with defending champion Simona Halep and WTA World No.1 Naomi Osaka vying for the top seeding.

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