Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a shot to Barbora Strycova of Cezch Republic during their singles match at the Wuhan Open in Wuhan yesterday. (AFP)

DPA/Wuhan


The injury plague continued yesterday for unlucky Maria Sharapova, with the five-time grand slam winner forced to retire in her first match since Wimbledon as she played the Wuhan Open.
The second seed went down to Czech Barbora Strycova 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (7-4), 1-2 after being treated for a left wrist problem.
The setback was only the latest during 2015 for the Russian, who had not played since losing a Wimbledon semi-final on July 9 due to a leg injury.
The 28-year-old was having trouble hitting her backhand as the match went on and did not want to take any chances with the growing problem.
Sharapova was joined on the sidelines of the rich Chinese event by 2014 finalist Eugenie Bouchard, who withdrew before her opening match citing the concussion she suffered earlier this month in a fall in the US Open locker room.
The Wimbledon finalist from last season whose 2015 has been a long downhill slide, pulled the plug on her participation three weeks after slipping and hitting her head in a darkened US Open training room as she walked on a wet floor.
The accident forced the Canadian to forfeit a semi-final against eventual New York finalist Roberta Vinci.
Bouchard was to have played Swiss prodigy Belinda Bencic in the Wuhan first round.
“I travelled to Wuhan with the intention of playing. Unfortunately, my concussion symptoms came back during practice on Saturday and it would not be safe for me to go on court today,” Bouchard said in a statement.
“I will rest in Wuhan for the next few days to determine how I progress, and look forward to coming back here to play in this great city next year.”
In the second round, Czech eighth seed Karolina Pliskova beat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 7-6 (7-5).
In first-round matches, ninth seed Ana Ivanovic advanced past Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-1, 6-3 while weekend Tokyo finalist and 11th seed Bencic hopped on a private jet laid on Chinese tournament organisers to get her and winner Radwanska to central China only hours after their final.
Bencic started her campaign by defeating Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5, 7-5                                
American 14th seed Madison Keys put out Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) while US Open finalist Vinci of Italy, seeded 15th, beat Danka Kovinic 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. France’s Caroline Garcia upset 16th seed Sara Errani 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-2.